By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Ben Outram, a postal distribution clerk, is treated by
paramedics. He was overcome by fumes at
the downtown post office.

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Post office fumes
sicken 18 people

Employees and customers
get medical help and the facility
closes for the day

By Star-Bulletin staff

The downtown post office complex on Merchant Street was closed this morning after eight employees and about 10 customers complained of noxious fumes.

The eight postal employees were taken to the Straub Clinic downtown for treatment, and one customer was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, said Felice Broglio, a postal service spokeswoman.

Six people were admitted to Straub's occupational medicine center on Beretania Street. The clinic said they were reported in "good condition" and were expected to be treated and released.

Broglio said the post office would be closed for rest of the day, but will reopen tomorrow.

Ben Outram, distribution clerk, said he had gone from the back of the building to the air-conditioned area when he smelled the fumes. "It just felt like a bunch of dust particles attached to your throat."

Customers who were standing in line were all coughing, he said. Outram told them to leave and stood at the door to keep others from coming in.

He was treated on the scene by paramedics and released.

Firefighters with the Hazardous Materials Division wore gas masks as they entered the post office.

Fire department personnel said they were not sure what the fumes were, but that customers and employees were showing symptoms of being exposed to an agent like tear gas, said hazardous material Capt. Robert Butchart.

Obed Okashige, station manager of the downtown post office, said he noticed the odor around 9:30 a.m. and called the fire department. The odor seemed to be only in the post office lobby.

Butchart said the source of the fumes is being investigated. He said the air will be blown out of the air-conditioning vents to see what emerges.

He said the fumes did not seem to be coming from the mail.