'Strange Odor' At Forever 21 Factory Prompts Evacuation Of About 100

LINCOLN HEIGHTS (CBSLA.com) — Nearly 100 people had to be evacuated from a Forever 21 factory in Lincoln Heights following a report of a strange odor.

Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department, says the odor was reported about 9:53 a.m. Sunday at the warehouse in the 3800 block of North Mission Road.

First responders dispatched to the location treated 18 people, according to Jeff Nguyen, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9.

He said 17 of those people were transported to the hospital for treatment. At least seven people complained of nausea and vomiting.

LA Fire Deparment Battalion Chief Albert Ward, said "The people were just having nausea, vomiting. Just illness. You know symptoms of being ill. So we treated those symptoms."

There are no reports of anyone having worsening conditions.

Nguyen ran into a number of people who were leaving the facility and he says all declined comment.

HazMat experts, along with LAFD personnel, remained on scene.

A preliminary investigation surmised the fumes were from separate building contractors spray painting the basement and spraying adhesive on the roof.

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