ANAHEIM : Chemicals Discovered Stored Next to School
Firefighters and county health officials Friday discovered about 500 gallons of chemicals stored at a house next to Sunkist Elementary School, in an area not zoned for such a use, according to a city spokeswoman.
A shed behind a house in the 300 block of Sunkist Street apparently had been used as a bottling plant for Med-Mar Metals, a company that produces metallic finishes, said Sheri Erlewine, a city spokeswoman. The company is owned by James Beatty; the house is owned by his father.
Beatty allegedly transported the chemicals--including benzene, nitric acid, metal powders and about a dozen other chemicals--from the company’s industrial office in the 2000 block of Via Burton Street after mixing them, Erlewine said. Beatty, who was not cited, will have to move the chemicals back to the Via Burton Street office by Sunday afternoon, officials said. They said that there was no immediate danger.
Officials learned of the situation Friday when a company employee was admitted to UCI Medical Center, complaining of breathing difficulties.
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