Samples discover hazards at fire

But the 18 chemicals are not at strong enough levels to harm the health of Fresnans.

By Mark Grossi
The Fresno Bee

(Updated Tuesday, January 28, 2003, 9:19 AM)

Authorities on Monday released a list of 18 potentially hazardous chemicals detected in air samples more than a week ago at the southwest Fresno junk fire.

But they repeated an announcement they made last week that the chemicals were not detected at levels high enough to trigger human health problems.

Only two chemicals -- benzene and chloromethane -- were mentioned in the first announcement because they were detected at the fence line, said Michelle Rogow, on-scene coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"The majority of the substances were coming from samples taken at the hottest parts of the fire," Rogow said. "They are products of combustion that you would see in most any fire."

But authorities continue to warn residents the tiny soot and ash particles still being released from the 17-day-old fire are a danger.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District predicted today's pollution would make the air unhealthy for those with sensitive lungs.

The district and others continued cautioning all residents about spending a lot of time outside if they smell smoke.

Assembly Member Sarah Reyes and Fresno City Council Member Cynthia Sterling announced Monday that there would be a free health screening from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday for children living in the southwest Fresno area. The screening will be at Addams Elementary School at McKinley and Hughes avenues.

The fire, which has been burning since Jan. 11 at the Archie Crippen Excavation site near Nielsen and Marks avenues, is about 70% controlled, officials said. Firefighters are now working the most intense part of the fire -- the north side of the heap.

Officials do not have an estimate when the fire will be extinguished. Firefighting costs have climbed to about $900,000, but EPA officials say the total does not account for all the federal costs.

The EPA is authorized to spend up to $1.85 million on the fire, Rogow said. The state Integrated Waste Management Board has committed to pick up $500,000 of the cost.

The $1.85 million figure is contained in a memo from Rogow to EPA supervisors. The memo, which also contained the 18 chemicals detected in the fire, justified EPA's involvement in the Crippen fire suppression effort.

Though the fire is in an industrial area, the memo noted the property owner, Archie Crippen, and one of his employees lived on the site. Other residences are within a few blocks, and schools are located within a one-mile radius.

The memo also outlined a risk to drinking and farm water supplies in the area. The fire also could result in fatalities, it said.

"Unfortunately, that's a risk that firefighters take," Rogow said.

The reporter can be reached at mgrossi@fresnobee.com or 441-6316.