SPARKS -- A post office in Sparks was closed and an investigation started as a result of a suspicious white powder found inside a letter yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday afternoon at around 4, Sparks Police responded the U.S. Post Office at 2929 Vista Blvd on a report of a letter containing a white powder.  The Sparks Fire Deparment also responded and treated the scene as a HAZMAT situation.

The victim reported that she picked up her mail from her post office box and took it to her car in the parking lot.  Once inside her car she opened an envelope that she thought contained an advertisement and a white powder spilled out of the envelope.

The Sparks Fire Department could not locate any of the powder or any other evidence of contamination, however as a safety precaution the victim and her three children,  who were present when the letter was opened,  did go through a decontamination process.  REMSA medics checked the victims at the scene and they did not appear to be suffering from any injuries or illnesses.

The Post Office was closed during the investigation but opened up for normal business today.  The U.S. Postal Inspector responded to the scene and will be handling the investigation.

Any questions regarding this investigation should be directed to the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office.