9 Treated After Inhaling Toxic Fumes

Nine people, including four sheriff’s deputies, were hospitalized Saturday after inhaling toxic fumes at the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho in Castaic, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The toxic chlorine gas was produced when an inmate mixed bleach with Lime-A-Way, a commercial cleanser used to dissolve water deposits, Deputy Benita Hinojos said. The inmate, whose identity was not released, was part of a kitchen cleanup crew at the North County Correctional Facility.

Two sheriff’s deputies who inhaled the fumes were airlifted to a nearby hospital for observation, Hinojos said. Two other deputies and a civilian cook were driven by ambulance to a hospital where they were treated and later released, Hinojos said.

One inmate was treated at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and released. Three other inmates were taken to the jail ward of Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for observation, Hinojos said. The conditions of the sheriff’s deputies or the inmates were unavailable Saturday night, Hinojos said.

A hazardous material team from the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the 2 p.m. chemical reaction, which was confined to the kitchen, Hinojos said.