PASADENA >> A chemical believed to be pepper spray caused irritation to five people and prompted the evacuation of an office building early Friday, authorities said.
Officials responded about 8:30 a.m. to a report of a possible hazardous materials release at 333 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
Five people who were in or near an elevator reported smelling an order and feeling ill, with symptoms such as throat irritation, she said.
Officials evacuated about 30 people from the building. The five people who complained of feeling ill declined to be taken to a hospital, and recovered quickly once they were out in the fresh air.
A Burbank Fire Department hazardous materials team responded to the building as a precaution, Derderian said.
A fire captain detected the odor of what smelled like pepper spray in the building’s basement area, she said.
The odor quickly dissipated without need for firefighters to ventilate the structure.
Police and fire officials said they had no information regarding how the irritant may have been discharged.
Southbound traffic on Arroyo Parkway was closed to traffic as officials dealt with the incident, Derderian added.