50 Evacuated After X-Ray Machine Jams
About 50 people were evacuated from a Reseda apartment complex Wednesday evening when an X-ray machine malfunctioned and emitted small amounts of radiation behind the complex, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.
Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells said the mishap occurred about 5:20 p.m. while workers were X-raying a concrete structure behind the apartment building at 19545 Sherman Way to locate a reinforcement bar. The X-ray machine did not close properly and a container of cobalt 60 was emitting small amounts of radioactivity.
No one was injured, but firefighters evacuated the building as a precaution and a stretch of Sherman Way--between Corbin and Shirley avenues--was also closed for several hours until county health officials removed the machine, firefighters said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
