Thousands Evacuated From Hotel During Suburban Chicago Furry Convention After 'Intentional' Gas Leak

By Jon Graef in News on Dec 7, 2014 8:30PM

Mock furries all you want, but this story's pretty serious: According to the Chicago Tribune, police in suburban Chicago are investigating the gas leak, which took place at Midwest FurFest, an annual furry convention, as a criminal act. The leak resulted in thousands of people being evacuated from the Hyatt Hotel in Rosemont, where the convention was taking place. Almost 20 people were hospitalized.

Here's more, from the Tribune:

The incident happened around 12:40 a.m. at the Hyatt, at 9300 West Bryn Mawr Avenue in Rosemont, according to a statement from the Rosemont Public Safety Department. First responders were called to investigate a noxious odor that was spreading across the ninth floor of the hotel, where a high level of chlorine gas was discovered in the air, the statement said.

...

Technicians decontaminated the area and after conducting several tests deemed the area safe within about two hours. People were allowed back into the building around 3:30 a.m. Some conventiongoers, some of whom were dressed up as animal characters, stood outside of the building. Hundreds more were escaping the chilly weather at other buildings.

The annual weekendlong convention, which celebrates art, literature and performance based around anthropomorphic animals, draws thousands of people every year, according to the Midwest FurFest website.

Here's what the Midwest FurFest website wrote about the evacuation:

At 1:10 AM the entire hotel was evacuated, first across Bryn Mawr Ave. in front of the Hyatt as per Rosemont Fire Department’s standard procedures, then when it became apparent that the wait would take longer the Stephens Convention Center was opened to provide warmth and shelter to our guests. A full HazMat response was called in at that time.

In the course of investigating the scene, the Rosemont Police Department determined that this was a criminal act and began investigating it as such. This delayed allowing our guests back into the hotel. Midwest FurFest is deeply thankful for the cooperation and patience shown during this time, and please know that everyone was working to get you back into the hotel as quickly as possible. At 4:21 AM the all-clear was given and we worked with the Hyatt staff to return all of our guests to the hotel in the quickest and safest manner possible.

The Midwest FurFest site writes that, "we want to continue to provide the best possible convention that we can, despite the trying circumstances," and that the "convention will be running on a full normal programming schedule" Sunday.

We ask you to continue to be patient, and remember that the volunteers who make Midwest FurFest happen intend to give 110% to make sure that the fun, friendship, and good times of Midwest FurFest 2014 overshadow last night’s unfortunate incident.