Castle on Hill apartments evacuated
Suspicious smell found to be fire extinguisher
By Molly Montag Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, August 07, 2008
SIOUX CITY --Dozens of Sioux City residents were evacuated from the Castle on the Hill apartment complex for hours Wednesday while firefighters investigated a suspicious odor.
Sioux City firefighters were called about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday to investigate an odor at Castle on the Hill Apartments, 610 13th St.
Assistant Fire Chief Brad Robinson said residents reported a noxious, irritating smell on the fourth floor.
"They all of the sudden felt like they couldn't breathe and they felt a slight burning in the back of their throat," he said.
Residents were allowed back inside the complex about 10:30 p.m. after firefighters found evidence someone had discharged a fire extinguisher near apartment 425.
There was no evidence it had been used to put out a fire, Robinson said.
Property manager Judie Campbell said a maintenance worker discovered the smell about 8:15 p.m. Although she said the smell was reminiscent of a fire extinguisher, staff didn't see evidence one had been discharged.
The entire apartment complex, which has approximately 150 residents, was evacuated as a precaution.
No one requested medical attention, Campbell said.
The evacuation startled Mariana Hernandez, who was in her bathrobe watching television when apartment staff told her to leave her second-floor apartment.
Hernandez never detected the smell, but said she hoped officials found it fast so children could get to sleep at a decent time. Management said about 90 of Castle on the Hill's approximately 150 residents are children.
Robinson said if firefighters are able to find who discharged the extinguisher, the case could be forwarded over to the county attorney's office for review.
He said 17 firefighters in three fire engines and multiple support vehicles responded to the scene.
Sioux City firefighters were called about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday to investigate an odor at Castle on the Hill Apartments, 610 13th St.
Assistant Fire Chief Brad Robinson said residents reported a noxious, irritating smell on the fourth floor.
"They all of the sudden felt like they couldn't breathe and they felt a slight burning in the back of their throat," he said.
Residents were allowed back inside the complex about 10:30 p.m. after firefighters found evidence someone had discharged a fire extinguisher near apartment 425.
There was no evidence it had been used to put out a fire, Robinson said.
Property manager Judie Campbell said a maintenance worker discovered the smell about 8:15 p.m. Although she said the smell was reminiscent of a fire extinguisher, staff didn't see evidence one had been discharged.
The entire apartment complex, which has approximately 150 residents, was evacuated as a precaution.
No one requested medical attention, Campbell said.
The evacuation startled Mariana Hernandez, who was in her bathrobe watching television when apartment staff told her to leave her second-floor apartment.
Hernandez never detected the smell, but said she hoped officials found it fast so children could get to sleep at a decent time. Management said about 90 of Castle on the Hill's approximately 150 residents are children.
Robinson said if firefighters are able to find who discharged the extinguisher, the case could be forwarded over to the county attorney's office for review.
He said 17 firefighters in three fire engines and multiple support vehicles responded to the scene.
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