THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505240524
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
A black kitten drenched in oil was pulled from the wreckage of the Fine Petroleum Co. warehouse Tuesday as investigators continued their assessment of the scene.
A firefighter discovered the kitten. It was taken to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for treatment.
M.J. Reed, SPCA kennel supervisor, said the kitten had suffered serious respiratory problems and chemicals had damaged its eyes. It was put to sleep.
Finding the kitten, which was still breathing, was a highlight in a day filled with careful assessments of the partially collapsed structure.
The two-story warehouse, located at the end of St. Julian Avenue near Calvary Cemetery, was engulfed by a spectacular fire Saturday evening. Authorities want to investigate the chemical drums still in the building.
Leanne Nurse, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman, toured the site with about eight EPA workers Tuesday.
``Nothing looks good,'' Nurse said about the building's remains. ``There's still a batch of unknown and incompatible chemicals in the building.''
The main concern, she said, is that the building must be stabilized so that investigators can get inside to look at the remaining chemicals.
KEYWORDS: FIRE INVESTIGATION CHEMICALS by CNB