Sunland Firms Reopen as Fumes Clear

Three businesses in a Sunland shopping center, which shut down Saturday after spilled dry-cleaning solvent forced their evacuation, were back in business Sunday, a Los Angeles City Fire Department spokesman said.

Firefighters, including two rescue squads and a hazardous materials unit, were called to the center in the 8600 block of Foothill Boulevard shortly before 10 a.m., when about five gallons of liquid perchlorethylene spilled onto the floor of Crown Cleaners, firefighter Greg Acevedo said.

The solvent spewed from a partially opened gasket seal on a container. Two employees of the cleaning establishment were sent to Serra Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor eye and skin irritations, fire officials said.

Officials initially evacuated the entire shopping center but later reopened all but the three stores--the Best Little Hair House in Sunland beauty salon, a self-service laundry and the dry cleaner--at about noon Saturday, Acevedo said.