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April 19, 2019

‘Toxic cocktail' poisons water after huge California wildfire

  • It may take two years and up to $300 million before people in Paradise can safely drink, cook or bathe.

    • PARADISE, Calif. (AP) — The drinking water in Paradise, California, where 85 people died in the worst wildfire in state history, is contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical benzene, water officials said.

    Officials said they believe the contamination happened after the November firestorm created a “toxic cocktail” of gases in burning homes that got sucked into the water pipes as residents and firefighters drew water heavily, causing a vacuum in the system that sucked in the toxic fumes, the Sacramento Bee reported .


     
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