Anaheim : Two Sue City, Firms for Damages in Fricker Fire

A woman and her 7-year-old daughter sued the City of Anaheim, the Larry Fricker Co. and two other firms Monday for damages the two allegedly suffered during a June chemical fire at the company that forced thousands of people to evacuate homes and businesses.

The suit, filed in Orange County Superior Court by Zreata Arzola and her daughter Larina, seeks unspecified damages from the city, Larry Fricker Co., Black and White Corp., and Blue and Gold Co. The latter two are listed as having manufactured and distributed “toxic . . . and otherwise dangerous chemicals” stored at the Fricker warehouse at 1421 N. State St. at the time of the fire.

The suit claims that the city failed to properly inspect the agricultural supply warehouse, and that adequate inspections would have revealed numerous safety violations.

Called “Orange County’s worst environmental emergency” by one fire official at the time, the toxic fire has been ruled an arson case. It remains unsolved.

The suit is one of hundreds filed in connection with the disaster that kept an estimated 7,500 people from their homes and offices during a four-day period beginning June 22.

Sheri Erliwine, a city spokeswoman, said “a hundred or at least dozens” of damage claims and small claims lawsuits have been filed. The City Council to date has rejected all claims, she said Monday.