THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260653
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
The fire at Fine Petroleum Co. Inc. was intentionally set, and authorities late Thursday had three juveniles in custody, sources close to the investigation said.
It was not known whether the juveniles were to be charged. No motive was released. Local and federal officials are expected to provide details at a news conference this morning. The fire was the city's largest in two decades.
The fire at the warehouse - designated a Superfund site because of hazardous chemicals stored there - broke out Saturday just after 7 p.m. Huge fireballs, fed by exploding petroleum drums, shot hundreds of feet into the air.
The blaze and toxic smoke cloud forced the evacuation of nearby residents.
The 70-year-old petroleum firm in the 2800 block of St. Julian Ave. has a history of environmental problems. In the past eight years, officials have said company employees improperly stored and dumped toxic chemicals.
In 1993, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spent $1.5 million to clean up part of the site and disposed of thousands of gallons of toxins.
Local authorities asked agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to assist in the investigation because of the scope of the fire. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
GARY C. KNAPP/File
The fire, at Fine Petroleum Co. Inc., was Norfolk's largest in two
decades. Today, officials are expected to detail their findings.
KEYWORDS: FIRES by CNB