Convalescent Patients Flee From Fumes

More than 70 people, including 56 patients, were evacuated from a Huntington Beach nursing and convalescent home early Saturday morning after a janitor was overcome by fumes that triggered fears of a potential gas leak.

No one was seriously injured, but 37 people were taken to area hospitals after complaining about nausea, throat irritation and difficulty breathing.

The Orange County Health Department gave the Garfield Nursing Center a clean bill of health shortly before noon, allowing shaken residents and employees to return to the building.

“We’re getting back to normal here, we’re almost there,” said administrator Jill Greene, who said most of the 37 people hospitalized were released later in the day. Seven residents had been sent to nearby nursing homes so their care would not be interrupted.

Concerns about the welfare of patients, many of whom are in poor health, triggered an emergency response that put a strain on local ambulance services. The incident drew 16 fire units, nine ambulances, the county’s hazardous materials response team and local law enforcement.

The sources of the fumes remained a mystery Saturday, said Huntington Beach Fire Department spokeswoman Birgit Davis. “We still don’t know what it was. We have absolutely no clue.”

Greene said there were no chemicals on site that could have caused the odor.