Chula Vista

Fire officials are still trying to determine what caused fumes to escape from the air conditioning system at a Chula Vista theater Friday night, prompting the evacuation of 650 people and sending 52 to area hospitals.

Firefighters responded to a report shortly after 8 p.m. Friday that employees at the United Artists theater at 320 Third Avenue had evacuated about 70 people from one of the theaters in the six-screen complex, police said.

More than 100 patrons complained of sore throats, eye irritation, headaches and dizziness and were examined by paramedics in front of the theater.

Of those, 52 were taken to hospitals but had been released by early Saturday, said Capt. Bob Bryant of the Chula Vista Fire Department. Bryant said the most serious case was that of a man who had vomited after breathing the fumes.

Bryant said, “The determination at this time was that it was connected to the air conditioning system, but we don’t know what caused it or exactly what it was. It’s still under investigation.”

Bryant said officials from United Artists reopened the theater early Saturday, “and it’s now business as usual.”