Six Treated After Vodka Spill

A leaking bottle of Russian vodka caused the evacuation of a south Orange County engineering firm Monday and sent six mailroom workers to the hospital complaining of nausea and burning to the eyes, nose and throat.

Authorities said the bottle of 80-proof vodka was being sent from one employee to another at the Fluor Daniel office complex in Aliso Viejo.

“It must have been pretty strong,” said Capt. Stephen Miller of the Orange County Fire Authority.

“It made a bunch of people sick from smelling it.”

One mailroom worker became ill and five others felt woozy after being exposed to the fumes.

A hazardous materials team was called to help at the office complex.

More than 400 employees were evacuated from the four-story building and four workers were sprayed with decontaminants as a precaution.

“If you drop a bottle of liquor, you can get a really strong smell,” Miller said.

“And it’s not unusual for people to have psychosomatic-type symptoms when someone else becomes ill.”

Although the incident caused no serious injuries, company spokeswoman Lisa Boyette said the firm is responding.

“We are sending out an e-mail reminding our employees that we should use company property or equipment for business purposes only,” Boyette said.