No cause found for illnesses in downtown OKC building

Firefighters have not been able to determine a cause for illnesses reported Thursday at a downtown Oklahoma City building, a fire department spokesman said.

A seven-story building at 100 N Walker Avenue was evacuated for about an hour at 11:30 a.m. Thursday when a number of people who work inside complained of feeling dizzy or nauseated, said fire Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson.

“We have no idea why people were feeling ill,” Fulkerson said.

Fulkerson said 19 people were evaluated at the scene. He said three people who complained of feeling ill were taken to a hospital where they were treated.

Firefighters monitored the air in the building where the city of Oklahoma City Finance Department and technology information office is located, but they found nothing out of the ordinary.

City spokeswoman Kristy Yager said two of the workers who went to a hospital were treated and released and one worker is expected to be back to work Monday. She said the offices were open Friday. She said there had been no prior complaints about any type of illnesses in the building.

The majority of the complaints came from people on the second floor, Fulkerson said, but one person on the fifth floor complained of illness and the building was evacuated Thursday. People returned to their offices about 12:30 p.m.