EASTVALE, CAL: Acid spill sends 15 Starkist workers to hospital (UPDATE)
By RICHARD BROOKS / STAFF WRITER
Published: June 9, 2016 Updated: 7:25 p.m.
An unloading accident caused an acid spill that prompted the evacuation of a Starkist Foods canning facility in Eastvale where 15 workers were sent to the hospital for treatment of inhalation problems, say Riverside County Fire Department officials.
A firefighter also went to the hospital with unspecified minor injuries not related to breathing difficulty, officials said.
Roughly 40 gallons of concentrated cleaning acid spilled about 2:45 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at the sprawling facility at 12450 Philadelphia Avenue, just east of Milliken Avenue. The area is in the northeast corner of the city, nearly a mile northwest of Interstate 15 and Highway 60.
"They were off-loading (the acid) with a forklift from a trailer at loading dock," said Capt. Lucas Spelman. "One of the forklift arms pierced the bottom of the blue, plastic container."
The crews of five fire engines and a ladder truck were dispatched to the incident, along with county health department and fire department hazardous materials teams. By 5:25 p.m., the spill had been contained and the cleanup was beginning, allowing officials to lift the evacuation.