2 Firefighters Sent To Hospital After 'Hazardous Materials Incident': Aurora FD

AURORA, IL — Two firefighters were injured while handling a "hazardous materials incident" in the 600 block of West Illinois Avenue Thursday, officials said in an update.

The firefighters were wearing protective clothing and breathing air from their SCBA bottles when they entered the building and felt a "burning sensation" around their mask seal. After leaving the building, both were treated for minor injuries before they were taken to a local hospital, officials said. They were later released and returned to their duties.

Crews from the Aurora Fire Department, including its Hazardous Materials Team, were called to the scene at 11:25 a.m. after "some chemicals accidentally got mixed together and caused a vapor," Aurora Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Rhodes told Patch.

Rhodes said a total of 50 employees to evacuate before calling the fire department. One person was in the room when the incident occurred but was able to safely evacuate.

Hazmat technicians searched the building and determined the incident was isolated and that the chemical reaction had stopped. Officials did not say what substances were mixed to cause the reaction.

Crews rendered the building safe after it was ventilated and turned over to management, who said the facility would remain closed until the cause of the incident was investigated, according to officials at the Aurora Fire Department.

Aurora police, who were on the scene assisting the fire department, said there was "no threat to the community" during the incident. No civilians were injured.

Illinois Avenue was closed between Highland and Lancaster avenues for about four hours.