Industrial Blaze Sends 5 Firefighters to Hospital

A blaze that broke out in an industrial area of Santa Ana on Sunday sent five firefighters to the hospital after they came in contact with hazardous materials, fire officials said.

The firefighters--including one whose arm slipped into a vat of nitric acid--were expected to undergo medical evaluations as a precaution. They suffered only minor injuries and were not believed to be in danger, said Capt. Randy Black of the Santa Ana Fire Department.

The fire began at the PMP plating shop at 2635 S. Orange Ave. about 12:25 p.m., Black said.

“The fire was pretty intense in the very beginning,” Black said.

The five firefighters who were first on the scene soon realized this was no ordinary blaze when they noticed signs indicating that the chemicals used inside the business were hazardous and potentially flammable.

Then, one firefighter lost his balance and slipped, partially immersing his right arm into a vat of nitric acid, which all the firefighters had unwittingly been exposed to, Black said. All the firefighters were wearing heavy-duty protective gear, which may have prevented them from suffering serious injuries.

The firefighters quickly left the building, and elaborate decontamination procedures were begun. In a hastily set up tent, they washed themselves and shed all of their clothing that had been exposed to the chemical.

Afterward, they changed into white coveralls and sat outside across the street from the smoldering building. Capt. Jesse Hernandez, who came in direct contact with the acid, smiled, looked at his arm and said it seemed to be fine.

The firefighters were later taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana for tests.

In all, 12 units and 30 firefighters were on the scene, including a hazardous materials unit. The fire, extinguished in about 20 minutes, was contained to one area, and the building’s exterior seemed unscathed.

For a couple of hours Sunday afternoon, ventilation equipment was used to air out the interior of the business.

About 2:30 p.m., a hazardous materials team suited up in white coveralls, green rubber boots and gloves and went inside the building to monitor the atmosphere. They shut off all utilities so no more gases could be released and checked on whether it was safe for investigators to enter, Black said.

Tests found measurable levels of cyanide vapors, although it is not believed they posed a safety risk to the public, Black said.

The company, which manufactures silver and gold plating for the aerospace industry, will be closed today as fire investigators attempt to discover how the blaze started and the extent of the damage.