Fumes sicken 17
at Longs Drugs

A welder doing repairs
starts a small fire

By Linda Aragon and Helen Altonn
Star-Bulletin

A small welding fire generated noxious fumes that sent 17 people from the Longs Drugs store at Pearl City Shopping Center to the hospital this morning, ambulance workers said.

Emergency Medical Services chief Bobby Pedro said a welder was making repairs when the air conditioning duct insulation, which is made of fiberglass, caught fire 8:27 a.m.

"The smell of the burning fiberglass got into the air-conditioning system," Pedro said. "It's a terrible smell. It irritates the nose and throat." The welder, who was not injured, quickly extinguished the fire.

Six women were treated in the emergency department at Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, said Pat Oda, hospital spokeswoman. "We believe they all will be released," she said.

Their symptoms were coughing and shortness of breath, she said.

Three other women were treated for respiratory problems in St. Francis West's emergency unit, said spokeswoman Andrea Fukushima. She said their condition "ranges from fair to good." In addition to those sent to the hospital, 16 people refused medical treatment.

When Alice Panui arrived at Longs to pick up her husband's medication this morning, she saw a haze of smoke through the open door. Then she saw her friend, an employee, come out of the store and receive oxygen from an ambulance. Then she smelled the fumes. "It was like rubber and something else all mixed together," she said. "When you inhale it, it tickles your throat."

Large fire department fans were set up to circulate clean air into the store, which remained closed as of 11 a.m.