If you thought one hazmat scare was enough excitement for one family, Orange County had other plans. An 18-year-old Irvine resident, previously at the center of a February investigation involving mixed chemicals from a home science experiment, is once again the focus of law enforcement attention. This time the FBI has joined the Orange County Fire Authority in looking into a chemical odor reported at a home in Irvine, and yes, it’s the same teenager, just a couple of streets over from where the first incident happened.
According to the teen’s attorney, the family relocated after February’s hazmat response, moving down the block to Crater Lane. While unpacking, some of the same testing equipment used for the young man’s science experiments reportedly produced an odor strong enough that neighbors called the fire department Tuesday morning. OCFA hazmat crews responded first, and the FBI has since set up a mobile command post to help determine exactly what’s going on.
The teen’s attorney says this whole thing boils down to a misunderstanding, one rooted in how differently regular folks and trained chemists see the same equipment. Beakers, test tubes, and unfamiliar odors can look like something out of a crime drama to a neighbor peeking over the fence, even when the reality is a kid working late on a passion project…