Yellow Fire Smoke In Local Business Feared Hazardous, Under Investigation

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Reports of yellow smoke inside a local business caused a potentially hazardous situation. And it's not the first time crews have been called out to this same place.

Fire crews have moved out of the industrial building but it isn't stopping the fears of nearby employees.

So what happened at the factory?

"Nothing, just a little smoke coming up, that's it," said owner Dat Ma.

But fire officials say it was more than that coming from KDS Nail Manufacturing in the 8500 block of Yonger Creek Drive in South Sacramento. Firefighters were told there was a fire with yellow smoke coming from the building, apparently full of hazardous chemicals.

Ma insisted all of the employees inside were fine. Crews say sprinklers put out the flames, but this isn't the first sign of trouble at the finger nail solution maker.

The manufacturer had a fire two years ago, but Ma didn't want to talk about it.

"Yeah that, that's the past. We don't want to mention anything about that," said Ma.

Beyond another fire, CBS13 has learned that, according to court records, Ma is actually on probation after pleading no contest to two criminal charges in 2009, including failing to report a hazardous leak or possible leak to authorities. Fire officials say the company was forced to shut down for some time.

The second possible hazmat scare here is scaring area employees, but Ma insists everything is fine.

"Everything's safe, everything's safe," said Ma.

While large drums of what was labeled hypochlorite solution outside, Ma guaranteeing the company was up to code, but a district attorney investigator was also on scene to make sure.

As for Ma's guess as for what happened today?

"I don't know. They say some of reactive with the bottle, or whatever inside. You never know," said Ma.

The fire is still under investigation. A fire chief said the company passed its last inspection in December.

It's unclear if Ma's charges stemmed from that previous fire. He says the company has been operating for more than 15 years with no other issues.