Firefighters Battle Tanker Blaze In Perris

PERRIS (CBSLA.com) — Two burning tankers full of roofing material kept Riverside County firefighters battling flames through most of the early morning hours on Sunday, authorities said.

Firefighters responded to an 11:10 p.m. call Saturday after reports of black smoke in the area of East Nance Street, west of Redlands Avenue, and found flames coming from a pressurized tank on a commercial truck near a vacant warehouse, Riverside County fire officials said.

Fire crews from March Air Reserve Base assisted as emergency crews battled flames much of the morning. Their efforts were slowed by concerns that addition of water to the hazardous material could cause a dangerous reaction, officials told City News Service.

The blaze was essentially contained by 5:31 a.m., although units stayed on the scene until 8 a.m. to watch for possible flare-ups.

The fire destroyed the two tankers while the nearby warehouse, which is under construction, was not damaged, and there were no injuries reported, officials said.

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