Paz-Pines calls for probe into Ashdod fire

By EHUD ZION WALDOKS
Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee Chair Ophir Paz-Pines (Labor) called on the Environmental Protection Ministry to open an investigation into the fire at the Agan Chemicals factory in Ashdod at the end of a special session convened to discuss last week's blaze. While the police and fire department are looking into the cause of the blaze itself, Paz-Pines recommended a probe to examine how the factory stored its hazardous materials and whether improvements could be made. Ashkelon fire chief Dani Sasson ruled out an electrical short, a rocket or arson as the cause of the fire, but said his investigation was still ongoing. Environmental Protection Ministry Deputy Dir.-Gen. Yossi Inbar indicated that the fire had been started by some fertilizer, but they still didn't know exactly how.