Crews Contain Acid Spills in Simi, Ventura

Firefighters responded Monday to two separate incidents of spilled hydrochloric acid solutions, blocking off businesses and streets in Simi Valley and Ventura before neutralizing the powerful acid.

In Simi Valley, firefighters responded about 8 a.m. to a report of acid in a commercial dumpster in the 2200 block of Agate Court, an industrial area.

Firefighters found half a gallon of muriatic acid in a dumpster behind Plexcom, a computer company, Ventura County Fire Capt. Keith Mashburn said. Muriatic acid is 30% hydrochloric acid and frequently used to clean swimming pools, he said.

“It was sending off visible fumes,” Mashburn said. Authorities said that the acid was in a bottle but that the cap was knocked off when trash was thrown into the dumpster.

Art Saenz, a hazardous materials specialist, said firefighters blocked off the parking lot for a few hours and used a solution similar to baking soda to neutralize the acid. They used an absorbent to pick up the spill and carried it away in bags, he said.

Three Plexcom workers complained of minor throat irritation but returned to work, Saenz said.

About 45 minutes after the Simi Valley spill, Ventura authorities received a call about a gallon of muriatic acid that had spilled on Main Street near Telephone Road.

The acid, which was in a can, tumbled off a vehicle traveling west on Main Street, Ventura Fire Capt. Glenn True said.

No one was affected by the spill, which was neutralized with baking soda and washed away, True said.