Firefighters Battle Hazmat Dangers In San Jacinto Garage Fire

SAN JACINTO, CA —A vehicle fire that extended into the garage of a San Jacinto home Monday burned chlorine tablets and batteries, creating hazardous materials exposure risks.

According to the Riverside County Fire Department, the non-injury blaze was reported at 12:55 p.m. in the 800 block of Shaver Street, just east of Hewitt Street.

The agency said that multiple engine crews were sent to the location and encountered flames raging in a vehicle, spreading to the garage of a single-story residence.

Firefighters contained the blaze a short time later but discovered that possibly 1,000 chlorine tablets, an unknown number of lithium batteries and other items had been in the fire's path, according to officials at the scene.

A hazardous materials team was summoned to initiate a clean-up at the location, while occupants of neighboring residences were asked to shelter in place, along with students and staff at nearby Antonio Elementary School, as a health safety precaution, officials said.

"Residents should be aware that the smell of chlorine/chemicals will still be present in the immediate area," a Cal Fire spokesperson reported.

Firefighters fully contained the fire just after 3 p.m. and the shelter in place was lifted.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.