Hospital Workers Complain of Fumes

Employees of a Sun Valley hospital were treated for respiratory discomfort and eye irritations Saturday morning after noxious fumes of an unknown source wafted through portions of the hospital, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Pacifica of the Valley Hospital was closed for one hour while 23 employees were examined and released, said department spokesman Bob Collis. No patients were affected by the fumes.

Seven fire companies and five ambulances were called to the hospital after employees complained of an odor, followed by burning sensations in their eyes and throats.

Firefighters considered evacuating the hospital but decided not to after the odor eventually disappeared.

Collis said officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services will conduct an investigation to determine where the odors came from, and what caused the fumes to spread, mostly affecting employees in the basement and first floor.