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2 Chemicals at Site of Fire Neutralized

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Times Staff Writer

A cleanup crew Saturday neutralized and placed into containers the most hazardous chemicals remaining at the Sun Valley chemical warehouse that was damaged by fire last weekend.

The work began in the early morning hours so few people would be present in the vicinity of the Research Organic & Inorganic Chemical Co. at 9068 De Garmo Ave.

As an added precaution, police and Fire Department personnel closed off streets adjacent to the warehouse and asked nearby residents to evacuate. The work, which began at 6 a.m., was completed by 10:15 a.m.

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56 Injured

A fire gutted the chemical distributing firm April 13,and fumes from the blaze injured 56 people, including 52 firefighters who were treated at area hospitals.

The task of the 12-man crew on Saturday was to collect the toxic bromines and nitric acids within the gutted building, said Adolfo Ramirez, an officer with the U.S. Coast Guard’s Pacific Strike Team, which cleans up toxic spills.

“They were the ones of the greatest concern because of the vapors they can release,” Ramirez said.

The two substances were neutralized with water and soda ash, mixed with vermiculite, bagged and placed in drums. The drums will be shipped to an unspecified dump site later this week.

Walls to Be Steam Cleaned

Ramirez predicted that the cleanup should be completed by midweek. Less hazardous materials need to be packaged for shipment to dump sites. After that, the building’s walls and floors will be steam cleaned, he said.

In addition to the Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency and two private firms are participating in the cleanup efforts. The EPA has been authorized to spend up to $100,000 from the federal Superfund for the cleanup.

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Authorities have identified the owner of the Sun Valley company as Marianne Pratter, who was convicted of recklessly storing hazardous materials at a New Jersey firm of the same name last year. New Jersey officials said they had to pay $1 million to clean up the site.

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