Odor Forces Evacuation At Chatsworth Business, 2 Hospitalized

CHATSWORTH, CA —A chemical leak at a business in Chatsworth prompted the evacuation of about 100 people and two hospitalizations Monday morning.

Authorities are investigating the source of the odor that prompted the evacuations, but they don't believe it poses a "widespread or escalating hazard," according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The fire department was called to the scene at 9300 block of North De Soto Avenue just after 9 a.m. to respond to a report of an unidentified odor making people ill. By 10:30 a.m., an LAFD Hazmat team cleared the scene without determining the cause of the odor.

"The odor has dissipated and all readings are normal," said LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange. "The previously-smelled substance was not able to be identified but is no longer a hazard. All readings were within normal limits. The building has been deemed safe to inhabit, and all evacuees are able to re-enter the building."

In addition to paramedics transporting two people transported to a nearby hospital, two others were examined at the scene.

Authorities routed traffic away from the area during the investigation.