Fumes Force Evacuation of Disney Employees
The Walt Disney Co. sent 166 employees home early Tuesday after some were sickened by fumes of an unknown kind in the company’s Art Editions building.
Burbank firefighters evacuated the building, at 820 S. Flower St., about 2 p.m. after 18 employees complained of burning eyes, headaches and nausea. No one was injured and no one was treated, said Burbank Fire Marshal Darryl Forbes.
“They went out in the fresh air outside, everything went bye-bye and everyone felt better,” Forbes said.
Burbank police shut down two blocks of Flower Street for about two hours, Forbes said.
Forbes said officials are still investigating the fumes, adding there were no new shipments delivered and no recent work performed on the building. There are inks and paints in the building, a combination warehouse and office space, but it was not known if either substance might have produced noxious fumes.
Twenty-three Burbank firefighters responded. Los Angeles County hazardous materials crews assisted and were expected to help determine whether it is safe for employees to return to work today.
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