Hazmat: Strange Smell Forces Evacuation of Menifee Hospice Building

MENIFEE, CA – A Menifee-area health and hospice center was closed Friday, after a strange smell made people at the location feel sick, fire officials reported.

According to April Newman of the Riverside County Fire Department, the incident was reported just before 9:30 at the Inland Empire Home Health and Hospice building in the 27000 block of Bradley Road. That's in the Sun City area of Menifee.

The 10 firefighters sent the scene immediately evacuated the building and summoned a hazardous materials team to attempt to identify the malodorous substance, according to the fire department.

A staffer of the home healthcare agency treated at the scene by paramedics declined to be taken to the hospital.

Crews were unable to ascertain the source of the odor, but the business's manager decided to close the office for the rest of the day.

The Press Enterprise reports the business works with hospice patients, but they are treated in their own homes-- not at the location.

– City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Google Maps.