VONS IN SIMI EVACUATED FOR STRANGE ODOR : FIRE CREWS FIND PIPE SPEWING HAZARDOUS FUMES.Byline: Ann-Marie Sanchez Daily News Staff Writer Ventura County firefighters evacuated a local supermarket Monday morning after employees noticed a strong odor coming from inside the store, close to the deli section. ``It was a precautionary measure because there was some odor,'' said Larry Hein, assistant store manager. Fire crews arrived at the Vons at 1855 Cochran St. around 10:30 a.m. to find high levels of hydrogen sulfite sulfite /sul·fite/ (sul´fit) any salt of sulfurous acid. sul·fite n. A salt or ester of sulfurous acid. and methane coming from a broken drain pipe in the floor, said Battalion Chief Michael Estrada. ``When we arrived, we found 100 parts per million parts per million mg/kg or ml/l; see ppm. of hydrogen sulfite and 1,100 parts per million of methane,'' said Estrada. ``Technically, either one can be hazardous because both are poisonous and flammable flam·ma·ble adj. Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; inflammable. [From Latin flamm .'' Estrada said a pipe broke inside the market while a store employee was working on it and it began to vent the noxious noxious adj. harmful to health, often referring to nuisances. gas coming from sewer sludge to the interior of the store. ``Sludge build up or a variety of byproducts from sewage caused the smell,'' said Estrada. No injuries or health problems were reported, fire officials said. Shoppers stood outside the store in the early morning heat for 35 minutes, waiting to return to their grocery carts or bagged goods at the checkout line while fire crews plugged the pipe and ventilated ven·ti·late tr.v. ven·ti·lat·ed, ven·ti·lat·ing, ven·ti·lates 1. To admit fresh air into (a mine, for example) to replace stale or noxious air. 2. the store. Employees helped evacuate e·vac·u·ate v. 1. To empty or remove the contents of. 2. To excrete or discharge waste matter, especially of the bowels. customers and marked bags with their names to ensure a smooth return to business as usual. ``The first thing that came to my mind is this only happens on TV,'' said shopper Anahid Stein. ``This is like a movie.'' Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. resident Sylvia Liebscher said she noticed the unpleasant odor as soon as she walked into the large supermarket but figured it was nothing to be worried about while she ran in for a few items. ``I just stopped in to pick up a few things and I was just getting ready to go in line . . . when a girl came up to me and told me to evacuate the store,'' said Liebscher. ``There was a bad smell in there, but I thought they might have overcooked the eggs or something.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--color) Ventura County firefighters discuss th e dangerous gas situation at a Simi Valley Vons on Monday. (2--color) Employees and patrons of Vons waited outside for 35 minutes while the store was ventilated. Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion