Ontario hazmat situation: 28 patients treated, 9 taken to hospital after incident at commercial building

ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) -- Nine people were hospitalized Thursday morning after a hazardous materials incident that prompted a massive response from emergency personnel in Ontario, authorities said.

The cause of the incident at the Philips Oral Healthcare office building in the 1700 block of South Baker Avenue was not immediately known.

A spokesperson for the Ontario Fire Department said the agency's firefighter-paramedics were at the scene shortly after 8 a.m., following a report of a man complaining of chest pain. A total of 24 patients were treated.

News video from AIR7 HD showed an impromptu triage area in front of the building, where emergency responders were speaking with several people, a few of them with blankets draped around their shoulders.

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At least six ambulances were summoned to the location. Nine people suffering from respiratory irritation were transported to medical centers in conditions that were not life-threatening, Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Roeber said.

Dozens of other individuals were seen in an adjacent parking lot after the office building was evacuated.