Santa Barbara City Fire crews responded yesterday afternoon to what appeared to be a chemical spill near the intersection of Alisos and Montecito streets. Personnel discovered that acrylic sealant applied to the roof of a nearby business was washing off in the rain — it hadn’t properly cured before the weather turned wet — and dumping into the area’s storm drain.
The business owner was contacted, Fire Captain Gary Pitney said, and a few employees “worked cooperatively with city crews to limit environmental impacts.” Sandbags, absorbent, and dirt were used to contain the spill, and an environmental cleanup company dispatched its vacuum truck. “The commercial property owners assumed financial responsibility for the cleanup,” Pitney said.