By Jack Phillips, Epoch Times |
July 28, 2016 AT 5:19 PM
Last Updated:
July 28, 2016 5:50 pm
"
UPDATE:
A HAZMAT response was called to the Logistics Readiness Squadron, Building 2045, at 8:30 a.m. 24 personnel reported feeling affected by an unknown irritant and were seen by medical providers both on and off base. As of 3:30 p.m. all personnel who were treated for symptoms have been released. The cause and source of the incident is suspected to be related to the ventilation system but is still under investigation. Emergency responders have been dismissed.
"Thank you to our local partners who assisted our base emergency responders and affected personnel. The level of coordination and immediate response offered is indicative of the phenomenal relationship between the men and women of Fairchild Air Force Base and our local community." - Col Ryan R. Samuelson, commander, 92d Air Refueling Wing"
Fourteen people were hospitalized after an incident at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, on Thursday.
The base confirmed that a HAZMAT team was called in after 24 people reported “feeling affected by an unknown irritant,” officials said in a statement posted on Facebook.
The building has been evacuated. The incident occurred at around 8:30 a.m. local time at the base’s Logistics Readiness Squadron in Building 2045, Air Force officials said.
“The building was evacuated and emergency responders are on scene. The incident is currently under investigation,” the statement read.
Fourteen people were hospitalized after an incident at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, on July 28, 2016. (Google Maps)
The 14 personnel who were most affected “have been treated by base personnel and transported to local hospitals for additional follow-up evaluation,” Fairchild AFB added in the statement.
It said that outgoing and incoming traffic at the gates hasn’t been affected by the incident.
Seven patients who were taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center are in satisfactory condition, said Jennifer Semenza, a spokeswoman, told the Spokane Spokesman-Review.
The Airway Heights Fire Department sent units to the base at around 11 a.m., and the Spokane Fire Department also responded to the scene Thursday morning, the paper reported.
This story is developing; updates to come.