Firefighters arrived to a five-story modern building over parking, attached to a smaller two-story building, to investigate a smell of an unusual odor. Some individuals inside this medical clinic stated the odor smelled similar to natural gas. With six persons from the premises initially complaining of generalized sickness, the medical facility doing business as Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center, wisely began its own evacuation of the 25 year-old building. First arriving firefighters immediately extracted and isolated the ill, while summoning an LAFD Hazardous Materials Team. LAFD HazMat experts donned protective gear as their colleagues commenced a detailed medical assessment on the growing number of patients. A total of 75 firefighters secured the scene, ensured the ventilation systems were shut down and that there was no immediate life-threatening hazard in either of the two buildings. Firefighter / Paramedics rendered medical aid to a total of 18 patients, 17 of which were transported to various local hospitals in stable condition. Medical complaints of most patients were non-life-threatening generalized sickness, such as nausea and weakness.
Great care was taken by Los Angeles Fire Department's extensively trained and equipped HazMat team, whom remained on-scene for over two and a half hours to safely determine that there was no serious threat or escalating hazard. Though the odor dissipated and its source was undetermined, a small amount of Mercaptan, which is added to natural gas to provide its disagreeable odor, was detected in the area.
Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
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