YUBA CITY, Calif. (AP) — State toxics officials say a disaster was averted when officials found 11,000 gallons of potentially explosive chemicals in an abandoned building and safely disposed of them.
Officials said Friday that the chemicals included a variety of acids and cyanide stored in 55-gallon drums and giant open vats.
Charlotte Fadipe, a spokeswoman with the Department of Toxic Substances Control said that if spilled or mixed together, the substances could have exploded or caused serious injury.
The property was a former custom chrome and bumper business that was abandoned when the owner died.
It was located in an area of homes and commercial buildings.
Fadipe said the department's emergency response unit spent two weeks preparing the chemicals for transport to a toxic waste facility in Utah.
The cleanup cost more than $250,000.
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