Authorities are investigating after a small plastic bag containing a white powder was discovered in a restroom at a Lower Manhattan firehouse Thursday morning. The bag was found around 10:15 a.m. inside the bathroom at the Engine Company 4/Ladder Company 15 firehouse, located on South Street near Old Slip in the Financial District, according to an FDNY spokeswoman.

The New York Police Department was called in later that afternoon to collect the bag and conduct tests on the unknown substance. While initial concerns included the possibility of a hazardous material, an NYPD source confirmed that anthrax has been ruled out. The exact nature of the powder remains undetermined.

Firefighters at the firehouse downplayed the response, with one describing the NYPD’s involvement as precautionary rather than indicative of a drug-related raid. “It’s not our job to secure or sequester evidence. That’s up to the NYPD,” the firefighter said.

Both FDNY and NYPD investigators are interviewing personnel from the firehouse to establish whether the bag belongs to a firefighter or a recent visitor who may have used the restroom. As of Thursday, no FDNY employees have been charged or reassigned to modified duty in connection with the incident.

Officials have confirmed that a formal investigation will proceed to determine the origin and contents of the powder, but further details have not been released.