WEST PARK, Fla. – A 15-year-old boy died Wednesday morning after possibly being exposed to some kind of chemical inside of his home in West Park.
Firefighters were spotted going inside the home near the corner of Southwest 24th Street and 54th Avenue.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the teen was taken to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Tuesday after he was feeling sick, but he was released.
The teen’s father took him back to the hospital on Wednesday as he was still feeling unwell, and the teen died just after 9 a.m.
Family members identified the boy as Lorvens Julien.
According to authorities, medical staff stated that they smelled a strange odor -- possibly gas -- coming from Julien’s body.
BSO deputies went to check out the home and one deputy complained of having trouble breathing a short time later.
Authorities said the deputy was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital and firefighters with bunker gear, oxygen masks, and air tanks went inside to further investigate.
According to authorities, one firefighter suffered a second-degree burn from some sort of chemical in the house but is expected to be OK.
Firefighters in white chemical suits, which offer more protection, are running tests to determine what the chemical is.
Detectives will not be able to go inside the home until firefighters determine what is causing the chemical problems.
Authorities said no one else inside the home appears to have been exposed to it as they are all doing fine.
There were drums outside the home, however, it is believed nothing is inside them. A BSO spokeswoman told Local 10 News that the family uses them to transport “material” back and forth to Haiti, however, officials believe the chemical issues are coming from inside the home.
An official cause of the death for Julien has not been released.