Was this Fire at Alstyle Apparel?? 5 businesses evacuated, 10 firefighters hurt in blaze tonight Grass fire spread to a chemical tank, which exploded.
By JORGE BARRIENTOS
The Orange County Register
ANAHEIM A grass fire next to a commercial building at 500 E. Cerritos Ave. Sunday evening caused a chemical tank to burst, forcing the fire department to evacuate 35 businesses, shutting down a freeway off-ramp and sending 10 firefighters to the hospital, fire officials said.
Firefighters from Orange, Anaheim and Santa Ana responded to an outdoor fire near Alstyle Dyeing and Finishing, said Fire Marshal Jeff Lutz with the Anaheim Fire Department. The fire caused one of two 4,000 gallon tanks of hydrogen peroxide to rupture.
Ten Anaheim firefighters were sent to various hospitals with minor to moderate injuries, Lutz said. It was not known whether the injuries were related to the fire or the chemical, often used as a bleaching agent.
Hazmat teams were sent in to assess the area as fire officials evacuated 35 businesses near the area. A Sigalert was issued at 5:22 p.m. on the northbound I-5 freeway Katella Avenue off ramp.
"We want to be very cautious and safe," Lutz said while on the site. "We want to clean this up to have the businesses back up and running as soon as possible."
Fire officials were still fighting small patches of the fire into the night, and were investigating the cause.
The areas closed:
East Cerritos Avenue from South Anaheim Boulevard to South Lewis Street.
South Anaheim Way from Katella Avenue to South Anaheim Boulevard.
South Lewis from Ball Road to Katella Avenue.
It was not clear as of late Sunday when they would be reopened. |