The Region - News from Feb. 24, 1987

About 400 people who were evacuated from their homes after a weekend toxic fire at a Newport Beach metal-finishing plant will have to stay away for at least another 24 hours while the unstable chemicals are cleaned up, city authorities reported. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials inspected the Hixson Metal Finishing plant, and police spokesman Kent Stoddard said they found “a potentially serious threat from many of the unstable chemicals involved.” Stoddard explained that about 140 different chemicals were stored inside the building. “The evacuation is still in effect,” he said, “and will be for the next 24 to 72 hours . . . they will have to go in very slowly to get everything stabilized.”