Probe Looks at Whether Compost Plant Blaze Hurt Fire Crews

Authorities are investigating whether a massive, two-week-long blaze three months ago at a Santa Clarita compost plant caused serious medical problems for firefighters.

Of the 173 firefighters tested so far, 14 had higher than normal levels of arsenic in their blood, another 19 suffered some liver damage and one had both conditions, fire officials said. In addition, about 10 state Fish and Game Department officials who responded to the blaze have been tested.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials stressed that they have made no link between the results of the tests and the fire at Santa Clarita Greenwaste Inc. All the firefighters tested by the department are still working. Two firefighters who were examined by private doctors took leave as a result of injuries suffered in the blaze. Department officials declined to release details.

“We’re doing everything necessary to determine whether this incident has any correlation with the health of the firefighters,” said Capt. Steve Valenzuela, spokesman for the department.

A team of about 30 local and state health and environmental officials met Monday to begin analyzing results of the tests on the firefighters, some of whom have complained of headaches and flu-like symptoms. Supervisor Mike Antonovich has demanded a full investigation into the incident and a report by Dec. 31.

Firefighters responded to the blaze first on Aug. 28 and again Sept. 8 to extinguish the stubborn fire, which burned in a huge mound of grass cuttings and tree trimmings covering nearly four acres to a depth of 90 feet.

About 200 firefighters from throughout the county battled the fire during the two-week operation, fire officials said. A few of the firefighters complained of symptoms immediately afterward, leading the department to offer voluntary medical evaluations to all who participated.

Dr. Shirley Fannin, disease control director for the county, said health officials are just beginning to look into the test results. The Fire Department also has sent the results of the examinations to a UC Irvine toxicologist for independent review.

Fire Division Chief Gene Wolfe said his inquiry has found that building materials also were stored at the plant, but that it was too early to determine whether they contained toxic substances.

“The fire itself wasn’t exactly what we thought it was,” he said.

But Mike Lipis, general manager of the plant, insisted that there was nothing at the facility that would have harmed the firefighters. The plant takes yard cuttings from landscapers and others and processes it into material for resale as wood fuel or compost.

Lipis also cited numerous inspections of the facility before the fire that revealed no code violations.

“I’m sorry if some firemen did ingest some things, but we have a clean bill of health,” he said. “We’ve got a perfect record with all the agencies. How did we end up going from good guys to bad guys?”

Fish and Game officials are investigating, because some of the water from the fire entered a dry creek and ran toward the Santa Clara River before being blocked.

Warden Marty Wall said water from the blaze appeared toxic enough to kill fish, had it entered the river. However, he said the investigation is hampered by numerous complexities.

Among other things, Wall noted that the site of the plant has a history as a dumping ground and oil refinery. If the investigation does find dangerous levels of toxic materials, it may be difficult to prove that the compost plant is the source.

“The issues are so clouded,” Wall said. “We’ve got a lot of questions.”