CHANDLER — Ten people were treated after a bee swarm Monday at Intel’s Ocotillo campus in Chandler, according to police and a company spokesperson.
Three people were taken to a hospital in stable condition, while seven were treated and released at the scene, Chandler Fire Assistant Chief Scott Chapman said.
Chandler Fire and Arizona Fire and Medical Authority crews responded Sept. 14 after reports of multiple patients, Chapman said.
Intel spokesperson Nancy Sanchez said emergency teams contained the swarm and traced the bee activity to an active hive inside a storage unit.
The area remained closed while monitoring and mitigation continued, Sanchez said.
Fire officials did not know what caused the bees to become agitated, Chapman said.
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Intel had not immediately said whether those treated were employees, contractors, visitors or a combination.
Bees on a honey comb taken from a hive under a Douglas, Arizona, home in 2022.
Safety during bee incidents
The Intel incident comes after several bee-related emergencies in the Phoenix area this year.
Phoenix Fire Capt. Todd Keller said that people should not disturb beehives or throw objects at them.
He advised people outdoors to wear lightly colored clothing, avoid perfumes and scented products and, if they encounter an aggressive colony, run from the area while covering their head.
People should seek shelter inside a building or vehicle if bees become aggressive and should not jump into a pool or other body of water, according to Arizona State University assistant professor Adrian Fisher. Swatting at bees can make them more defensive, he said.
Bee activity generally increases during Arizona’s warmer months, when colonies grow and swarming becomes more common.
People who spot bees repeatedly entering and leaving the same opening should keep their distance and should not attempt to remove a hive themselves.
