Anaheim: Chemical Fire - Twelve firefighters injured Sunday

Twelve firefighters were injured Sunday afternoon in a fire that involved caustic chemicals at a textile dyeing company, authorities said.
The fire was reported just after 4 pm local time Sunday near chemical storage tanks

Jeff Lutz of the Anaheim Fire Department says the fire was reported just before 5 p.m. Sunday at Alstyle Dyeing and Finishing and was out by just after 6 p.m.

Lutz says the firefighters were hurt while putting out the blaze, The injuries, including respiratory irritation and chemical burns, were all mild to moderate, said Jeff Lutz of the Anaheim Fire Department.

The fire was reported just after 4 p.m. local time Sunday near chemical storage tanks outside Alstyle Dyeing and Finishing, Lutz said. The blaze, which burned through combustible material near the tanks, was out in under two hours.

Two tanks of hydrogen peroxide and one of phosphoric acid burst open in the fire. While not flammable, both chemicals added to the heat of the blaze, Lutz said.

As a precaution, 35 nearby businesses in the industrial area were evacuated Sunday night as hazmat teams cleaned up the spill.

All the injured firefighters were expected to be back on the job this week.

The cause is under investigation.