Roundup: Hazmat response at Ventura High, sheriff's office warns of mail scam, more
Here's a roundup of recent incidents from Ventura County agencies:
No injuries reported after chemical mishap at Ventura High
Two buildings near the pool at Ventura High School were evacuated shortly after noon Tuesday when a chemical used to clean the pool was incorrectly added to the wrong holding tank and caused a reaction.
Ventura Fire Battalion Chief Tony Hill said pool workers inadvertently mixed bleach and muriatic acid and when they realized the error, quickly called in the emergency. Hazardous-materials crews from Ventura City, Ventura County and Oxnard fire departments responded.
Hill said no one was injured and crews remained at the school for several hours to ensure the chemicals were neutralized and safely removed from the site.
"We didn't have any exposures that we're aware of," he said.
The battalion chief said the chemical reaction releases a vapor and exposure could cause respiratory issues. He said crews used gas monitors and their readings remained at zero outside the room where the reaction happened.
"It's a static situation, and there's no danger to students in the area," Hill said around 4 p.m.
Principal Marissa Rodriguez sent two messages to parents and staff notifying them of the situation. She said some people reported a chemical odor coming from the area.
Many of the fields and rooms in and around the gym were closed and a scheduled boys volleyball game Tuesday afternoon was canceled, she said.
Some classes displaced by the incident were moved to temporary classrooms on campus, the principal said.
"We anticipate that everything will be back to normal tomorrow, but if not, we will have staff stationed in the area diverting students to temporary classrooms," Rodriguez said in her note.
Sheriff's office warns of mail scam
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of a scam involving letters sent via certified mail that claim money is owed to the sheriff's agency.
The bogus letters say they're from Sheriff Smith Hughes. No one by that name is employed by the sheriff's office. The suspect has not been identified.
Ventura County's elected sheriff is Jim Fryhoff.
The letters say the recipient is responsible for a duplicate check cashed at a local restaurant. The writer claims to have access to the recipient's driver's license and threatens to send the bill to collections if not paid, plus interest, in two weeks. The letter also threatens a warrant will be issued if the bill isn't paid.
Sheriff's officials recommend recipients don't respond in any way.
If you have lost money to a scam, you can call the sheriff's dispatch line at 805-654-9511 to file a report.
Vandalism at Reagan library under investigation
SIMI VALLEY — Police in Simi Valley are investigating spray-painted graffiti on an entrance sign to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum as an act of vandalism.
Prior to Sunday's appearance of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, someone used black spray paint on an entrance sign to write "Ron DeFascist," the Simi Valley Police Department reported. The graffiti was sprayed sometime Saturday night or early Sunday, officials said.
Library staff members removed the graffiti before DeSantis arrived. There was no indication of threats or other crimes, the department said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police department's tip line at 805-583-6984.
Items may be updated.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Roundup: Hazmat response at Ventura High, mail scam warning, more
