The State - News from March 15, 1989

About 100 people were evacuated for five hours from Riverside city police and fire headquarters when drugs seized over the last 10 years deteriorated and caused toxic fumes to spread from an evidence storage area. The evacuation caused cancellation of the 911 emergency telephone system for about 40 minutes until phone company crews could reroute calls through the Riverside County sheriff’s office during the late afternoon emergency. More than a dozen county Fire Department hazardous material team members worked to remove the deteriorated drugs. No injuries or major problems were reported.