Fumes Sicken 14, Rout Hundreds

Fumes from an industrial complex in Orange sent 14 people to hospitals Monday, and fire officials evacuated hundreds of others.

Officials got calls at 12:10 p.m. from two businesses--one at 654 N. Hariton St. and the other at 645 N. Cypress St.--reporting that workers smelled a strong odor of natural gas or propane, said Capt. Larry Boyd, spokesman for the Orange City Fire Department.

The first of 18 units that reported to the scene found people complaining of shortness of breath, nausea and anxiety, Boyd said.

Those affected were taken to St. Joseph Hospital, Chapman Medical Center and UCI Medical Center, officials said, though there appeared to be no major injuries.

“At 1 p.m. we received five victims and began treating them for symptoms from vomiting and nausea to difficulty breathing. They are all in stable condition,” said Sonoma VanBrunt of Chapman hospital.

All those brought to the three hospitals were treated and released the same day, officials said.

Firefighters evacuated several hundred others from businesses along Angus Avenue, Hariton Street and Nicolas Avenue to a temporary shelter at Orange High School. Authorities also blocked off Batavia Street from Walnut Avenue to Collins Avenue.

Hazardous materials specialists then tried to find the origin of the odor within the commercial complex, which includes machine shops, a chemical processing plant and a food processing center. After nearly three hours of searching, however, officials called off the investigation.

“We were unable to pinpoint a source,” Boyd said. “Sometimes that happens. It could have been anything. Someone could have dumped something down a storm drain. We just don’t know.”