Local News in Brief : Gas Shuts Warehouse

Three men were under medical observation Friday and a Carson warehouse remained sealed off after the release of a cloud of toxic vapor during remodeling of the warehouse, which formerly was used to make insecticide.

The Thursday afternoon incident at the facility, which fire officials said is owned by the Weld-On Corp., led county firefighters to evacuate between 50 and 60 people and seal off South Broadway between Sherman Drive and Walnut Street for about an hour.

Fire Capt. Charles Johnson said that when a worker with a backhoe tore up a concrete floor, “a cloud of vapor hit him (and) irritated his eyes. He had difficulty breathing.” Two other workers were also affected.

Although county health officials were still conducting tests Friday to identify the chemical, company officials told firefighters they believe it is a chloropicrin, a soil fumigant that had been manufactured in the warehouse by the previous owner.

Officials said the three men are being monitored for any delayed reaction to the chemical.