Toxic Smoke Hospitalizes 20

More than 20 people were taken to hospitals and 800 people were evacuated this morning after a 55-gallon drum of resin caught fire at a City of Industry chemical company, causing a cloud of toxic gas.

Officials with the Sheriff’s Department and county Fire Department said the froblic resin at General Sealant Co. caught fire at about 9:30 a.m. When employees put out the fire with water it gave off odorous fumes, Deputy Roy Riffle said. Twenty-two people were transported to Queen of the Valley Hospital and hundreds more were evacuated from nearby businesses. Hazardous materials teams were called in to clean up the residue.