Unusual odor forces hotel evacuation

Published 3:35 pm Monday, August 25, 2014

For the Reporter

A six-story SeaTac hotel in the 18400 block of International Boulevard was evacuated Monday afternoon after employees and guests complained of a “chemical” odor on the fourth floor, which caused respiratory distress and coughing.

The Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority, which was dispatched to the call at 12:23 p.m., found more than a dozen people who complained of the respiratory symptoms.

Kent Fire said 13 were transported to local hospitals. Several others declined aid. All suffered from minor breathing distress and were evaluated as a precaution. Six of the treated were hotel employees and several others were airline employees.

The hazardous materials response team searched the building for more than two hours, but were unable to locate a source, Kent Fire reported. The hotel was ventilated before employees and guests were allowed to reenter the building.