Several people were hospitalized after a “hazmat incident” at a Philips manufacturing facility in Ontario Thursday morning.
Crews responded to a report of someone with chest pain at a facility where dental care products are manufactured, in the 1700 block of South Baker Avenue around 8 a.m., according to the Ontario Fire Department.
At least 28 people were sickened, with nine taken to area hospitals suffering from symptoms of respiratory irritation, like coughing. Their condition was not life-threatening. Fire officials initially said there were 29 patients.
Hazmat crews combed through the facility but did not identify a chemical irritant in the building.
While the facility does store hazardous materials, the firefighters’ equipment wasn’t showing any readings of a toxic substance in the building, Ontario Fire Department Battalion Chief Scot Roeber told KTLA. The building was ventilated and cleared, he added.
“Building is clear of contaminates now but further investigation is necessary,” the Fire Department said in a tweet.
Aerial video from Sky5 showed multiple people wrapped in blankets outside the building’s entrance, sitting in an area closed off with police tape as firefighters geared up to enter the facility.
The Fire Department asked residents to avoid the area for a few hours, but the incident was contained to the one facility and no additional evacuations were ordered.