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Saturday's Internet Edition, July 31, 2010.
Water bottle containing chemical found in RM
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Photo courtesy to River Valley Times
Captain Christian Pebbles of Sacramento Metro Fire Department describes a plastic water bottle containing chemical chlorine tablets found in Rancho Murieta as a low-level type of chemical bomb that had the potential to injure. The device was found on July 1 on Abierto Drive in RM South. Sac Metro was one of five agencies that responded.
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By Sheri Barile
River Valley Times Reporter
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A seemingly harmless plastic water bottle found in Rancho Murieta South on July 1 is being described by Sacramento Metro Fire Department as a low-level chemical bomb due to its dangerous contents.
Captain Christian Pebbles of Sac Metro said the bottle contained water and chlorine tablets. “What happens is a gas is produced and becomes pressurized in the capped bottle,” Pebbles said. “Potentially, the vessel can fail and it explodes. Anyone close to it - if that happened - could be injured. In fact, if someone were to pick it up at the wrong time, it could have the potential to blow your hand off.”
The crude homemade chemical bomb was found on the driveway of an Abierto Drive residence when RM Community Services District Security responded to a suspicious persons call.
The small plastic water bottle was left at the site, apparently by two mature teens who had been noticed by witnesses driving in the area and trespassing on property. According to CSD Security Chief Greg Remson, the two were gone when security arrived.
When the property owner noticed a chemical odor coming from the bottle, 911 Emergency was contacted. Sac Metro responded, as did a Sacramento City Haz Mat crew, an agent from Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) and Sacramento Sheriff's Department (SSD).
The bottle was determined to have contained water and chlorine tablets after the Haz Mat crew neutralized it. EMD advised the property owner to dispose of it at Sacramento County Waste, Pebbles said.
According to Remson, the car heard and seen by a witness is known to security patrol, and the name of the 19-year-old driver was provided by the responding CSD officer to SSD. However, SSD Public Information Officer Tim Currant said no official report was made by the SSD responding officer, and the matter was considered disposed of.
Remson suggested that SSD may have interpreted this incident as a low priority in light of the resources currently available to them. “They’re weighing what they spend their time on,” Remson said. “We just point them in the right direction, but unfortunately, they don’t work for us.”
Remson is urging residents to be alert and exercise caution if a water bottle with a broken seal is found containing liquid – especially if it seems out of place and has any kind of chemical odor. He asks that in such an event, people stay clear and contact security immediately.
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