It smelled like hell today—at least if you were anywhere near the 710 Freeway at Anaheim Street.

That’s because someone spilled an estimated four cubic yards of yellow sulfur on the eastbound ramp to the southbound 710 Freeway on Anaheim. Another spill was confirmed at Pier F at the Long Beach Port, Port spokesman Lee Peterson said.

LBFD and Harbor Patrol responded to the Pier F incident at 1:15 p.m. Saturday. About 20 minutes later, they both responded to another call at the Anaheim Street freeway on-ramp for the same thing, Long Beach Fire Department spokesman Pete Kusel said.

“We don’t know that the spills are related,” Peterson said. They so far don’t know who is responsible for either spill, but are starting their investigation.

One witness said the sulfur spilled off a truck and “the guy kept driving.”

The perpetrator left behind a bright yellow sulfur patch 60 yards long on the on-ramp. Authorities closed down the ramp until 6:30 p.m. while a street sweeper and power-washing hazmat company cleaned up the mess.

The Pier F incident was much smaller and was cleaned up by about 3 p.m., Peterson said.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, sulfur naturally occurs in the environment, food and household products. It is of low toxicity to humans and can cause breathing irritation.

 

Valerie Osier is the Social Media & Newsletter Manager for the Long Beach Post. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ValerieOsier