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Flames Erupt At South Sacramento Hazmat Situation

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A hazmat situation that has persisted for hours took a nasty turn Wednesday afternoon when flames suddenly engulfed a trailer filled with hazardous waste, sending noxious smoke over a highly populated area.

Flames erupted inside a tractor trailer at about 5:10 p.m. on the 8500 block of Elder Creek Road, more than nine hours after the Sacramento City Fire Department responded to reports that the trailer was leaking foul white vapor.

HAZMAT crews were delayed for more than an hour until officials could call in mutual aid from Roseville. Sacramento HazMat teams were cut by more than half in recent budget cuts, authorities said.

More than 40 different hazardous materials were being stored in the trailer, which was in transit to a final disposal site. At least three people were hospitalized after being exposed to the fumes, and four firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion after battling the blaze.

The company that owned the truck, Clean Harbors Environmental Services, has been cited by federal and state regulators for numerous violations over the years. In 2007, the California officials cited the company for improper storage of toxic chemicals, and in 2005, the company settled with the EPA for 10 violations in 8 states.

Clean Harbor regulatory affairs vice president Philip Retallic said the chemicals inside the trailer were properly packaged and the company will be investigating how the fire began.

"I think it's very premature to cast any aspersions about whether or not there were any violations," Retallic said in a phone interview with CBS13.

Firefighters remained on scene Wednesday night to monitor the scene.

>> Ron Jones Reports After Fire Flares Up

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