Fog vapor causes burns at Hollywood pre-party for Teen Choice Awards

LOS ANGELES -- More than a 20 people, including some teenagers, suffered respiratory irritations and burn injuries Saturday evening after exposure to "theatrical fog vapor'' at a pre-party for the Teen Choice Awards in Hollywood, a city fire official said.

Witnesses said the incident at the Avalon Hollywood resulted in chaos, calling to mind for a panicked moment Friday's shooting massacre at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo.

The incident was reported at 6:04 p.m. at 1735 N. Vine St. (map), Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.


See the original report at NBCLosAngeles.com

Rescuers believe a special-effect fog system caused the injuries. Most victims felt better after fresh air and examination, Humphrey said.

"Along with respiratory irritation, a few patrons who contacted dripping liquid from apparent heavy use of smoke effect have superficial burn (injuries),'' Humphrey said.

Six people were taken to hospitals in unspecified condition. A total of 22 patients were assessed, according to Humphrey.

A hazmat team was investigating, Humphrey said.

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The party was called off after the incident, he added.

Vine Street was closed between Franklin Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard while the group was assessed, he said. 

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Discuss this post

Someone spiked the fog mix? Must be Al Qaeda.

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 12:52 AM EDT

I would be pissed if some numb nut FX guy made my kid sick...

  • 1 vote
#1.1 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:46 AM EDT
Comment author avatarJeff E-3389459Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

nah, it was Obamas fault. Everything else is blamed on him so this MUST be a screwup from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC lol.

  • 2 votes
#1.2 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:31 AM EDT

Quite possibly a methane supplement was added...really bad news all around.

    #1.3 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 12:41 PM EDT

    don't give'em any ideas... they might spike the fogger...with a little bath salt mix...

      #1.4 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 12:52 PM EDT

      What happened to dry ice and hot water foggers? Chemical ones made in China, cheaper?

      • 2 votes
      #1.5 - Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:28 PM EDT
      Reply

      Really?! "...calling to mind for a panicked moment Friday's shooting massacre at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo." Are you seriously comparing a fog machine malfunction to a massacre? Why must the news always try to sensationalize the mundane? Ugh.

      • 27 votes
      Reply#2 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:01 AM EDT

      It is what the media does, for the next year if someone sneezes in a theatre, it will remind some reporter of the Batman Massacre...and we will always click on the link, and comment on the story (deep sigh)

      • 13 votes
      #2.1 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:15 AM EDT

      Yep. Mr. PheaNiques has it right.

      It's just how ratings and revenue based news works. Milk the story of the moment for every last dime. Those clicks mean ad revenue.

      So, the comparison is their way of making a minor story into a bigger one. Next week, they'll take a story about 'Squirrel crosses road' into 'Rabid squirrel rampage causes panic, worry.'

      • 6 votes
      #2.2 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:33 AM EDT

      The same reason people leave sensationalized comments. For attention ungh !

      • 4 votes
      #2.3 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 4:54 AM EDT

      Soooo true,...though the sensationalism comparing the fog mishap at the Avalon, actually wasn't the medias fault ....Unfortunately, "dollar signs" in the sick, selfish minds of a handful of parents ,twisted this minor mishap into a scene straight out of a large-scale disaster movie, concentrating on the chaos and the "what if" scenarios. I was actually directly under the fog machines. At first it was a surreal as if walking on a dense set of clouds. True, it became disorienting and scary for a minute or two as everyone made their way towards the light s of the "exit" signs. I remember thinking how quickly and calmly the event staff was able to evacuate the group of teen girls. Then, I saw "drama mom" freaking out , telling her young son , "how these people had almost killed them". Next she directed him to couch and act like he was gasping for air . Minutes later the fog was gone , waters were passed out and we were back inside as the first band took the stage. High energy radiated from the singer, as parents and teens cheered them on. "Drama mom" was dancing rocking out a few feet from stage. Suddenly, the announcer tells the crowd to evacuate the building at the request of Fire dept. We were across the room and one of the last to exit. I see "Drama Mom" quickly go into character as she and her son began to wheeze and push their way towards the front where the firetrucks parked....My husband and I watched as she grabbed another family"victim", whispering in her ear . The teen girl put her hand to her forehead , her knees rubbery as "Drama mom" yells to the officers for medical assistance.....What a joke... Yes, a few in the crowd had tiny superficial burns from the dripping fog (c02) ,but the other 18 people reported injured had just decided to "play" the "victim / fake lawsuit character. An entire street had to be closed, 10 or more emergency vehicles, 100 or more county employees including a full Hazmat team responding wasting hours / taxpayer money....giving the media headlines that would go so low as to compare these sue-happy women to those REAL victims and their families in Colorado who truly need our prayers and more.

      • 5 votes
      #2.4 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:57 AM EDT

      Right,KATAJAmom. Sounds like a whole lot of drama over nothing. Was it chemical fog,Dry Ice or Co2? There are differences. Chemical fog has been in use for years and has been carefully designed to be safe,non-toxic and non irritating though too much of it in the air can be annoying. The chemical is pumped through a heating tube and comes out as fog or steam. The machines can drip warm condensate from the nozzles,so if they are to be mounted over people, it's a good idea to attatch a small drip tray to catch the spillage. Dry ice fog machines are bulky 55 gallon drums full of warm water with a basket of Dry Ice that is submerged in the water and gasses out as low lying fog. (the same way as when you drop a cube of it in a glass of water,only bigger).They are usually too large and clumsy to mount in the air. Co2 is similar to a fire extinguisher and is usually used as a stage affect and quite safe if care is taken not to point them directly at the performers or guests.

      When properly used, it's pretty hard to hurt someone with any of this equipment, but in this litigious society I suppose anything is possible if "Drama Mom" and her friends hire a good liar..Er, I meant lawyer. Yup. The lawsuits will be flying and special effects fog will be banned in all 50 states. Next they will sue over bright lighting at shows. "Hey my kid could go blind looking at that!" It's pathetic.

      • 4 votes
      #2.5 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:01 AM EDT

      Wow you guys are really rude I had friends that were there and they had to go to the hospital, and they weren't just a bunch of teenage girls, there were celebrities there too. I know its not as big as the shooting but have a heart you weren't there so you don't know what really happened smh.

        #2.6 - Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:11 AM EDT

        "If it bleeds, it leads." - Newscasters Motto.

        • 1 vote
        #2.7 - Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:07 AM EDT
        Reply

        Q: "Why must the news always try to sensationalize the mundane? Ugh."

        A: Because The Media does not hire experienced news writers from reasonably decent Journalism schools. Media companies hire people with the talent for sensationalizing every event, whether news-worthy or not. MSNBC is Crap Journalism For The Masses.

        • 8 votes
        Reply#3 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:18 AM EDT

        They are all Crap for the masses...as totally defunct as the media has become as reliable unbiased news source for the American People, the are equally magnificent at the ability to milk every single "advertizement dollar" out of a "news item"

        • 5 votes
        #3.1 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:30 AM EDT

        Guess if I took the biggest sh#^#$t tonight and reported it, it would be sensationalized on the media too! I yi yi!

        • 4 votes
        #3.2 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:05 AM EDT

        That was 1wasted minute of my life I won't get back.

        • 3 votes
        #3.3 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:54 AM EDT

        this article ;; is like a stale cheeto...they never get to stale...been under the couch cushion...just waiting to be found...by the right person...

          #3.4 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:45 PM EDT

          the dissemination of information is so fast and in such large quantity that they must sensationalize the tidbits to keep the attention of people long enough for them to read the article.

          then the people move on to the next sensational item.

            #3.5 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 4:03 PM EDT
            Reply

            OMG, how will they ever go on? It must have scared the sushi and lobster out of them!

            • 5 votes
            Reply#4 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:29 AM EDT

            no, i'm not going to do that...???

            • 3 votes
            #4.1 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:31 AM EDT
            Reply

            Was Lindsay Lohan in the back smoking on a bong?

            • 2 votes
            Reply#5 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:30 AM EDT

            I bet they were steamed... I would be.

              Reply#6 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:14 AM EDT

              Someone put in the wrong amount of dry ice. Case closed.

                Reply#7 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:18 AM EDT

                Yeah, I guess Skreech and Ugly Betty put too much dry ice into the fogg machine. And then Ogre came along and decided to liven up the party by bopping his own head against the fogg machine, and that's where the burns and blindness began.

                • 1 vote
                #7.1 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:23 AM EDT
                Reply

                Big Deal!! people need to grow some skin and not get excited over the little Sh_t in life nobody got hurt so the show must go on. F_cking bunch of idots.

                • 2 votes
                Reply#8 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 6:48 AM EDT

                I think the only victim in this story is the party FX company.

                The blame will be pushed back to them by whoever in the hell it is that hosts the teen choice awards. Even though they have probably been using this same kind of fog juice for years, it will be announced that the FX company was grossy negligent in listening to the yahoo at the awards saying: "I want 50 huge fog machines to spray 2 feet from people's faces no matter where in the room they are."

                These already rich kids and parents are now going to be richer, and I cannot even afford to add power steering fluid to my car until next week even though it needed it a month ago.

                Siigghh...

                • 5 votes
                Reply#9 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:30 AM EDT

                So 15 rich kids need some fresh air and its compared to the theater shootings? What a joke. Do you know how many teenagers dont get enough fresh air? If these kids were normal they would have just gone outside for 5 min and laughed it off and gone about the party instead of "needing medical attention".

                • 4 votes
                Reply#10 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:57 AM EDT
                dinghoooDeleted

                Great post from KATAJAmom--

                You are absolutely right that there is a percentage of the population that is always looking for a check, and they are perfectly happy to engage in fraud to obtain one.

                • 4 votes
                Reply#12 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:58 AM EDT

                someone farted??? sometimes that so lethal burn skin off your junk

                • 1 vote
                Reply#13 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:00 AM EDT

                Moronic Sensationalist News Because we Can...........

                • 1 vote
                Reply#14 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:52 AM EDT

                "Witnesses said the incident at the Avalon Hollywood resulted in chaos, calling to mind for a panicked moment Friday's shooting massacre at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo"

                With all due respect, how little that might actually be, that is the most asinine statement I have heard since "no one expected the levies to fail".

                The fact that you have someone in your employ so callous and self serving as to even consider publishing it indicates a corruption of journalistic integrity at a level so profound as to render anything you publish in the future to be suspect and quite frankly, not even worth viewing to see what level of depravity you have sunk to next.

                I will never again look at anything on your pathetic website, and if there is ever an opportunity to let your company know just how profoundly it disgusts me in a manner that deprives you of revenue, I will make every effort to exploit it.

                If for once you actually care to show the world your contrition, call me, (515) 994-0756, I'll be more than happy to discuss several ways you can repay the victims in Colorado for your disgusting behavior

                • 1 vote
                Reply#15 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:32 PM EDT

                I understand how the media tends to grab onto the sensationalism and drama that unfortunately attracts attention. What I don't understand, is why in last nights coverage of the fog mishap at Hollywood's Avalon Teen Pre Choice Party, the only ones interviewed at the scene were the parents and children being "treated" by fire department. 400 guests were reported evacuating while only 18-20 were so-called "injured". This is where I have to question the level of journalistic integrity. I have to agree with leftrightcenter unless someone from the media cares to explain why only the dramatic, hypochondriac, lawsuit lovers were allowed to voice their views.

                • 1 vote
                #15.1 - Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:53 AM EDT
                Reply

                So we have an over hyped story about a make believe event that was created to be a media story producer. The only reason I read it was to write what I wrote.

                • 2 votes
                Reply#16 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:33 PM EDT

                i read what you wrote about your take on what was wrote...you wrote it and i read it...the only reason i read it was to write what i wrote...

                • 1 vote
                #16.1 - Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:36 PM EDT
                Reply

                SMH You people are so rude, you weren't there you don't know what really happened, i was there and i had friends that were there that had to go to the hospital cause they couldn't breathe, if you look at the video of it it was a lot worse then what the article is saying. So stop being dumb asses and being rude and start caring about other people then yourselves.

                  Reply#17 - Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:20 AM EDT

                  My daughter worked on the prop crew in theater in high school. She would mention that the fog machine would bother her. I guess she was right.

                    Reply#18 - Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:13 PM EDT
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