Feb. 29--NEW HAVEN -- Seven large drums of fertilizer found in a rear yard in the Hill neighborhood did not contain the type of chemicals used to construct a fertilizer bomb like the one that destroyed the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995, authorities determined.
But the volume did generate a significant response from emergency workers, including members of the police bomb squad, firefighters, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and even the FBI.
The homeowner, who authorities described as something of a hoarder, told them it was organic fertilizer. Emergency responders weren't sufficiently alarmed to require any evacuations and by noon had tested the contents of the barrels with litmus paper. The product came back with a neutral pH, said fire Capt. William Gould, signalling that it didn't pose any threat.
Joel Cabala bought the house in 1995. Neighbor Kris Sainsbury said the barrels had been in the back yard for at least eight years and he even offered some to her in the past for her plantings.
She believed it was harmless but understood the need for caution.
"If it's fertilizer, you know what can be done with that," she said.
Ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers when mixed with petroleum fuel can create powerful explosions.
Sgt. Peter Moller said officials were exercising due caution with the response and had contacted the state DEEP to remove the barrels, which were tucked in the rear of the yard of a dead end property by Interstate 95.
Investigators had spoken to Cabala and were satisfied with his answers, police said.
Sainsbury and police described Cabala as a "collector."
"He's rather a recluse in his own little way but he is very kind people...," Sainsbury said.
Cabala used a wood stove in the basement to heat the house.
Gould said the scene was under police jurisdiction.
"It's unusual to have that excessive amount," said Gould. "There's no reason to have that much."
The Fire Department initially responded to the scene overnight on a report of a chimney fire that Cabala had climbed on the roof to try to put out himself. That led to the discover of the barrels and the bomb squad call out.
Copyright 2012 - New Haven Register, Conn.
