Suspicious Mail Sent to Offices in Santa Ana

Firefighters evacuated hundreds of employees from six government buildings in Santa Ana on Tuesday afternoon after workers found a suspicious white substance inside letters received by mail. Preliminary testing showed the material was not dangerous.

The letters, containing unspecified threats, were discovered first, about lunch time, at the Sheriff’s Department and district attorney’s office. Later, similar letters were found at the probation department, county Hall of Administration, Santa Ana City Hall and state building, officials said.

Tests determined that the substance found at five of the offices -- all but the probation department -- was not hazardous, said Dave Thomas, a Santa Ana fire spokesman.

Workers at all of the offices will be allowed to return to work today after county Health Agency officials identify the substance, Thomas said.

The letter to the Sheriff’s Department was handwritten and addressed to the department, said Jim Amormino, a department spokesman. The letter contained “derogatory words and a couple of indirect threats,” Amormino said.

The FBI is investigating the threats, Amormino said.