Chemical Cloud Disrupts Work; No One Injured
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ORANGE — More than 50 people in several businesses were evacuated Tuesday after sulfurous chemicals at a metal-stripping firm mixed and created a dangerous cloud, an Orange fire official said.
The violent reaction occurred about 3:30 p.m. at a building in a small industrial park owned by Burlington Engineering Inc., at 220 W. Grove Ave., Fire Capt. Thomas Hesketh said.
When firefighters arrived, they saw a large cloud over the firm’s building and ordered the area evacuated, Hesketh said.
No injuries were reported.
A hazardous materials team was dispatched from Santa Ana Fire Department, but the cloud dissipated before the team arrived, Hesketh said.
“Somewhere in the process, the sulfuric acid mixed with waste water like it’s supposed to do, but this time the reaction speeded up,” Hesketh said. “The process stopped on its own.”
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