Cyanide Suspected In Sickening 7 L.A. Firefighters

As the fire and homicide investigation continues, officials say several firefighters were exposed to cyanide gas in two separate incidents as they were mopping up hot spots near the small city of Acton on the northern edge of the massive blaze.

The poisonous cyanide fumes are suspected in acute breathing problems suffered by Los Angeles firefighters battling the Station Fire in the Aliso Canyon. One firefighters suffered life-threatening respiratory arrest and remains in hospital after she was knocked out by noxious fumes on Sept. 1 near Acton.

Two days later, six firefighters suffered severe breathing difficulties in another part of the Aliso Canyon.

“On Sept. 1, a firefighter working on the Station Fire in the Aliso Canyon area of Acton was overcome by noxious fumes,” said the Los Angeles County Fire department. “The firefighter suffered respiratory arrest and was taken to a local medical facility for further treatment and evaluation.”

The firefighter remains in hospital.

“On Sept. 3, six firefighters were transported to a local hospital after being overwhelmed by unknown fumes in a different part of Aliso Canyon. The firefighters were treated and released,” said a statement.

“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department HAZMAT unit responded to the two separate areas of Aliso Canyon to investigate the cause of the respiratory illnesses,” officials said.

After examining the sites, the Sheriff’s HAZMAT personnel detected trace cyanide concentration of 48 parts per million in the Alison Canyon area.

“In the area where the six firefighters were injured, the Sheriff’s HAZMAT unit found smoldering spots of fire, but no contamination traces of chemicals. The HAZMAT unit also found galvanized materials, baling wire, cans and bottles.

“During the investigation and rehabilitation, the sites of both the inhalation injuries have been cordoned off and secured.

Medical personnel have been advised of the Sheriff’s HAZMAT unit findings,” said a press release issued in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Authorities do not have an idea where the cyanide came from.

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From The Los Angeles Times

Officials said 10 firefighters had been taken to a hospital in two separate incidents, in which it appears they had stumbled upon hazardous materials. At one of those sites, health officials detected cyanide and one firefighter remains in the hospital. Officials are still not sure where the cyanide came from.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has said investigators are probing the deaths as homicides. A source told The Times that “material that didn’t belong there” has been found at the site suspected to be where the fire started, a twice-scorched slope cordoned off by crime scene tape near Mile Marker 29 along Angeles Crest Highway.

The source would not identify the suspicious substance but said it was found in the brush off the highway, within walking distance of the turnoff at the center of the arson probe. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was an ongoing investigation, said the substance was taken to a lab for testing. The material is not a device, according to the source.

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Arson Blamed In Fire at Palin’s Home Church

Gov. Sarah Palin’s home church was badly damaged by arson, leading the governor to apologize if the fire was connected to “undeserved negative attention” from her failed campaign as the Republican vice presidential nominee.

Damage to the Wasilla Bible Church was estimated at $1 million, authorities said Saturday. No one was injured in the fire, which was set Friday night while a handful of people, including two children, were inside, according to Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele.

He said the blaze was being investigated as an arson but didn’t know of any recent threats to the church. Authorities didn’t know whether Palin’s connection to the church was relevant to the fire, Steele said.

“It’s hard to say at this point. Everything is just speculation,” he said. “We have no information on intent or motive.”

Steele would not comment on the means used to set the fire.

Pastor Larry Kroon declined to say whether the church had received any recent threats.

“There are so many variables,” he said. “I don’t want to comment in that direction.”

msnbc.com.