Editing Anaheim, California (section)

=== Fricker Fertilizer Factory Fire ===
The Fricker Fertilizer Factory fire on June 21, 1985 <ref>{{Cite news |last=Ap |date=1985-06-25 |title=AROUND THE NATION; 11,500 Are Evacuated In Coast Pesticide Fire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/25/us/around-the-nation-11500-are-evacuated-in-coast-pesticide-fire.html |access-date=2025-05-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> has been considered to be one of the worst environmental disasters in Orange County.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kopetman |first=Roxana |date=1986-06-22 |title=One Year After, Fricker Fire Leaves Legacy of Ordinances |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-22-me-20616-story.html |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> A pesticide warehouse under the Larry Fricker Company was set ablaze, burning for four days due to the hazardous, highly toxic chemicals, such as [[Bromomethane|methyl bromide gas]] and [[Organophosphate|organophosphates]], that were stored inside. The fire released more than 80 different chemicals into the air, which were carried by winds to surrounding neighborhoods.   

The first round of evacuations took place 14 hours after the fire was reported and witnesses claimed that the air appeared "thick" and exposed skin began to intensely itch. <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kopetman |first=Roxana |date=1986-06-22 |title=One Year After, Fricker Fire Leaves Legacy of Ordinances |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-22-me-20616-story.html |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Working-class neighborhoods within a 2-mile radius in the cities of Fullerton, Anaheim, and Placentia were evacuated, resulting in a conservative estimate more than 7,500 evacuees <ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindgren |first=Kristina |last2=Wride |first2=Nancy |date=1985-06-28 |title=Fricker Fire Site Cleanup Delays Arson Investigators |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-06-28-me-1372-story.html |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> and the closure of the 57 freeway for two days. 

Cleanup operations are recorded to have removed four tons of ammonium nitrate in order to avoid additional explosions.<ref name=":0" /> Twenty cases of hospitalization were linked to the toxic fumes emitted by the factory fire and lingering effects in the population included burning lungs, itching skin, boils, and rashes.<ref name=":1" />

The $100-million class action lawsuit against the Fricker Company of Anaheim had been dropped a year later in exchange for several, smaller lawsuits as well as legal reform that mandated businesses in California report the type, quantity, and location of toxic chemicals on the premises.<ref name=":1" />