Anaheim : Toxic Chemical Leak Causes 150 to Evacuate

More than 150 people were evacuated from three apartment complexes and three motels in Anaheim for about four hours early Friday when a cloud of toxic chemicals leaked from a faulty valve of a tanker truck, authorities reported.

The evacuees were back in their homes and motel rooms by 4:30 a.m. after hazardous material team members from the Anaheim and Orange County fire departments allowed vapors from the pressurized chemical to dissipate into the air.

The fumes, identified as hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid, are strong irritants which make eyes burn, said Robert Merryman, director of environmental health for Orange County. The mildly toxic chemicals are used to remove scales that build up on industrial tanks, he said.

Anaheim city spokeswoman Carol Johnson said a small chemical cloud leaking from the truck, parked on the east side of Beach Boulevard, just north of Ball Road, was first spotted by police officers about 10:20 p.m. Thursday. Anaheim firefighters responded and decided to call in the city and county hazardous materials teams.

The team members determined that the tanker had been emptied of the liquid chemicals but that pressure was building inside the tank, causing fumes to leak through a valve that was not working properly, according to Johnson and Merryman.

Residents of apartments at 890, 874 and 870 S. Ball Road, and guests of the Budget, Sahara and Rainbow motels were evacuated by 12:30 a.m., Johnson said. In addition, hotel patrons north of the area were instructed to stay indoors, she said.

Orange County Transit District buses helped transport the evacuees to Baden Powell Elementary School, 2911 Stonybrook Drive, where they were attended by American Red Cross volunteers, Johnson said.

Anaheim Police Lt. Robert Puckett said the truck is owned by Parr Trucking of Wilmington.

The driver, Ronny Earl Alexander, 28, of Anaheim--reportedly a resident of one of the nearby apartment complexes--was arrested on two outstanding traffic warrants from Merced for alleged vehicle violations involving equipment, speed and overloading, as well as failure to appear, Puckett said.

A city official said Alexander would not be cited in connection with the chemical spill.