Deaths of FL Pest Control Workers Lead to Evacuation, Probe into Cause
Omar Rodríguez Ortiz
Miami Herald
(TNS)
A furniture warehouse in Pompano Beach was evacuated for part of Tuesday afternoon following the deaths of two pest control workers and the hospitalization of a third over the weekend, according to authorities.
The Baer’s Furniture warehouse, 1589 NW 12th Ave., was evacuated at around noon Tuesday following reports that two employees of a pesticide company had died off-site after fumigating the location, the Broward Sheriff’s Office told the Miami Herald. Investigators say a third pest control worker was hospitalized.
As of Tuesday night, authorities hadn’t said what led to the deaths and illness. The workers’ identities and the name of the pest control company hadn’t been released.
The situation began Saturday after the three workers had completed their work.
Later that day, one of them began to feel ill and went to a hospital in Palm Beach County, said Carey Codd, a BSO spokesman.
“It was discovered later that day that the other two employees were found deceased,” Codd said in an email Tuesday. “One was found [dead] in Hollywood and the other in Boynton Beach.”
The worker who was found dead in Hollywood was discovered at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday.
According to the Hollywood Police Department, officers forced their way into a vehicle at the 1700 block of Taft Street after finding him.
“Hollywood Hazmat was called out, and no hazardous chemicals were found coming from the vehicle,” Hollywood police spokeswoman Deanna Bettineschi told the Herald in an email Tuesday afternoon. “Detectives are working on this investigation and waiting for a cause of death ruling from the Medical Examiners’ Office.”
In Boynton Beach, the second victim was found. Boyton Beach police hadn’t responded to requests for details Tuesday evening.
On Tuesday, in an abundance of caution, the warehouse on 1589 NW 12th Ave. was evacuated. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue inspected it for hazardous materials but found nothing of concern, authorities said.
The warehouse is less than a mile from Markham Elementary School, which went on a hold status, keeping everyone indoors, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
Baer’s Furniture employees returned to the building later in the day. Kari Fletcher, the company’s director of marketing, told the Herald in an email that no Baer’s staff has been injured.
This story is developing.
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