THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997            TAG: 9702060334
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: HAMPTON                           LENGTH:   23 lines

CLEANING-LIQUID VAPORS HOSPITALIZE 6 IN HAMPTON

Six store employees were taken to a hospital Wednesday when vapors from a cleaning solution that was poured down a drain irritated their eyes, noses and throats, the Hampton Fire Department said.

The Hills Department Store was evacuated for about 2 1/2 hours as a precaution, fire department spokesman Rick Rickett said.

The store is in the process of closing, so only employees were there, Rickett said. He did not know how many other people were working, but he said only six complained of a reaction to the fumes.

They were taken to Sentara Hampton General to be evaluated for respiratory problems, Rickett said. They were not identified.

An employee poured about 64 ounces of Lysol down a floor drain while cleaning, Rickett said. The Lysol mixed with another substance, creating a gas that caused the irritation, he said.