Goodyear warehouse evacuated; 15 hospitalized [Video]

GOODYEAR, AZ (AZFamily) — Fifteen people were hospitalized, and 15 others were evaluated for possible exposure after a hazardous materials situation at a Goodyear warehouse.

Crews responded to reports of people feeling ill at a Quetico Logistics warehouse near 143rd Avenue and Yuma Road just before 9 a.m. Warehouse employees told Goodyear Fire crews that it was possibly the result of an odor coming from a forklift battery and that the building was being evacuated.

Goodyear Fire Capt. Kevin Boyd says medics transported 15 people to the hospital in stable condition. Another 15 were evaluated at the scene.

Goodyear Hazmat teams confirmed an overheated battery on a forklift, which was removed from the building.

“Anytime the battery starts to overheat like that, it ‘off-gasses’ and that off-gas is what permeates through the building itself,” Capt. …