Fire Turns Into HazMat Emergency

A report of a fire in a commercial building in Inglewood today turned into a minor hazardous materials situation.

Firefighters were called to a commercial structure at 8716 Aviation Blvd. at 4:36 p.m. on a report of smoke, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Tony Akins.

However, the smoke was apparently from a dry chemical fire extinguisher that someone tried to use on a 55-gallon drum leaking some sort of gas, Akins said.

A hazardous materials team was called to deal with the gas emitting barrel, Akins said. Early indications were that the product was some sort of hair gel, but that has not been confirmed, Akins said.

-- City News Service