Mystery Blob Eats L.A.
By Dana Bartholomew, Staff Writer
LA Daily News
Los Angeles officials were still scratching their heads today over what caused a mysterious black goo to burble from streets downtown, forcing the evacuation hundreds of apartment dwellers.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said investigators had yet to identify the "black tarry substance" more than 24 hours after it erupted at Olive Street and Pico Boulevard.
But he said there might be "a correlation" with a petroleum company drilling operation nearby.
"The samples we have taken _ this was determined to be (a) nontoxin, nonflammable, nonhazard," said fire Capt. Ernie Bobadilla. "We're looking to I.D. the scope of the problem.
"This problem is not a simple fix."
About 200 residents were forced to flee as a hazardous materials team and dozens of firefighters worked throughout the day to identify what was first deemed "a black tarry substance" and later morphed into a "watery mud."
While outside temperatures struggled to break 60, sidewalks in the vicinity steamed at 103 degrees, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Ron Myers said.
"It's worrisome in the fact that it will keep the street closed and residents will be evacuated till the building is considered safe," Myers said.
Firefighters were alerted at 3 a.m. by complaints of a sewer-like smell at an apartment house at 1220 S. Olive St. near Pico Boulevard, but found nothing.
They returned at 1 p.m. to find a Slimer-like ooze lurking beneath central Los Angeles. Full Story
LA Daily News
Los Angeles officials were still scratching their heads today over what caused a mysterious black goo to burble from streets downtown, forcing the evacuation hundreds of apartment dwellers.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said investigators had yet to identify the "black tarry substance" more than 24 hours after it erupted at Olive Street and Pico Boulevard.
But he said there might be "a correlation" with a petroleum company drilling operation nearby.
"The samples we have taken _ this was determined to be (a) nontoxin, nonflammable, nonhazard," said fire Capt. Ernie Bobadilla. "We're looking to I.D. the scope of the problem.
"This problem is not a simple fix."
About 200 residents were forced to flee as a hazardous materials team and dozens of firefighters worked throughout the day to identify what was first deemed "a black tarry substance" and later morphed into a "watery mud."
While outside temperatures struggled to break 60, sidewalks in the vicinity steamed at 103 degrees, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Ron Myers said.
"It's worrisome in the fact that it will keep the street closed and residents will be evacuated till the building is considered safe," Myers said.
Firefighters were alerted at 3 a.m. by complaints of a sewer-like smell at an apartment house at 1220 S. Olive St. near Pico Boulevard, but found nothing.
They returned at 1 p.m. to find a Slimer-like ooze lurking beneath central Los Angeles. Full Story
posted by SkumChiken at 6:39 PM
