Ammonia Leak in Southern California Sends 13 People to Hospital

"Firefighters continued their efforts to stop the ammonia leak throughout the day, and were eventually able to mitigate it," the Orange County Fire Authority said in a statement

Thirteen people were hospitalized in Southern California after a hazmat leak occurred at a business, authorities said.

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) said in a press release on X that Buena Park-Firefighters, as well as hazardous materials units, were dispatched to a commercial building on the 6500 block of Cabellero Boulevard on Friday.

The hazard — which was later identified by the OCFA as an ammonia leak — was reported shortly before 9:15 a.m., the OCFA told ABC News and CBS News in a statement.

The department added that crews were able to “isolate the area” and were “treating people exposed” to the hazard.

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The incident affected more than two dozen people. The OCFA reported on Friday that 11 employees of the business were treated by paramedics and transported to nearby hospitals in stable condition. Twelve employees also had to be decontaminated, authorities said.

Along with the tweet, the OCFA shared a photo of three members of the hazardous materials units in silver and orange hazmat suits heading into the building with a wheeled cart of supplies. They each wore a large silver face shield, covering their heads and necks.

In an update on Friday night, the department said a total of 13 people were sent to the hospital and one person was treated on the scene and then released.

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“Firefighters continued their efforts to stop the ammonia leak throughout the day, and were eventually able to mitigate it,” the OCFA said in a statement.

As crews worked in the area, they advised the public to “avoid using” Caballero Boulevard.

The OCFA did not say how the leak may have started, but noted it is investigating the incident.

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Exposure to high levels of ammonia in the air can cause people to experience face, eye, skin, throat and lung irritation as well as coughing and burns, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In some cases, ammonia exposure can be fatal.

Other symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, skin pain and redness, skin blisters and permanent or temporary blindness.

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