Suit Claims Firefighters Caused Plant Fire

LA VERNE —  City firefighters responding to a water leak at a circuit board factory last year indirectly caused a $3-million chemical fire because they failed to cut off the flow of electricity to the facility, owners of the destroyed building allege in a lawsuit against the city and its Fire Department.

The Sept. 2 fire at Supertech Circuits Inc., 2102 E St., produced a toxic cloud that forced the evacuation of 2,000 residents.

City Manager Martin Lomeli said firefighters acted properly in what was “a very difficult situation because of the hazardous materials involved.” The city fire chief said the cause of the fire has never been determined.

But the lawsuit, filed in Pomona Superior Court last month by Supertech, its management company J. R. Controls Inc., owners James R. and Mary Sue Savage, and their insurer, blames the city for allowing a water leak to escalate into a fire.

The suit, charging negligence and willful misconduct, says the incident started when water began leaking out of the building at Supertech, which manufactured printed circuit boards, at about 8 p.m. on a Sunday. Attorney Gerard P. Harney, who represents the plaintiffs, said fire officials thought the leak involved hazardous chemicals and refused to let employees into the building to stop the water flow. Harney said employees offered to drink the leaking water to prove that it was harmless but were still kept away.

The suit says the city allowed the fire to occur by failing to shut off the electricity. Harney said he believes the fire started when water hit a junction box, causing an electrical short.

Then, once the fire started, the suit charges, firefighters “refused to put water on the fire to extinguish such fire and essentially permitted the premises and contents thereof to be totally destroyed.” The suit claims that the inaction was part of a plan to put Supertech out of business because it bordered a residential area.

Lomeli and Fire Chief Robert Miller denied the allegations.

Miller said the fire presented a difficult problem because caustic soda, sulfuric acid, ammonia and cyanide solutions, and other chemicals were stored on the site. “There’s a certain degree of caution required,” he said. He said the city enlisted the aid of the county Fire Department’s hazardous materials team and other agencies.

Lomeli added that although Supertech’s building was lost, firefighters succeeded in saving buildings next door, and police managed to evacuate hundreds of neighbors. “I was very proud of the professionalism of the Fire and Police departments,” he said.

Lomeli said the city had no desire to force Supertech out of business.

Supertech, which had 55 employees, had operated at the site since 1971. James Savage said it is unlikely the company can resume operations at the site because of zoning and environmental regulations that have been established since the building was constructed.