THIS CASE SEEKS TO RECOVER MONEY SPENT BY EPA TO CONDUCT AN EMERGENCY REMOVAL. LARRY FRICKER CO, INC. IS AN AGRICUL- TURAL CHEMICAL RETAIL BUSINESS WHICH HAS OPERATED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1939. ON 6/22/85, A FIRE BROKE OUT AT THE FRICKER FACILITY LOCATED IN ANAHEIM, CA. THE FACILITY WAREHOUSE CONTAINED A WIDE ASSORTMENT OF PESTICIDE AND FERTILIZER PRODUCTS. IT WAS IN FLAMES WHEN THE ANAHEIM FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON-SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS BELIEVED TO BE ARSON. LOCAL RESPONSE PERSONNEL FROM SEVERAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL TEAMS RESPONDED TO THE INCIDENT. THE FIRE CONTINUED TO BURN ON AND OFF FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE IT WAS FINALLY EXTINGUISHED. DURING THIS PERIOD AN ESTIMAT- ED 10,000 PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM THE AREA TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO POTENTIALLY TOXIC VAPORS. MAJOR ROADWAYS WERE ALSO CLOSED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. EPA REGION 9'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM PROVIDED TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE LOCAL RESPONDING AGENCIES DURING THE FIRE. ON 6/24/85 A CERCLA REMOVAL ACTION WAS FUNDED AFTER THE OWNER/OPERATOR DECLINED TO TAKE RESPONS- IBILITY FOR SITE CLEANUP. EPA MOBILIZED AND INITIATED THE REMOVAL ACTION ON 6/25/85 AT THE REQUEST OF THE LOCAL FIRE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE TEAMS. WORKING UNDER HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, EPA REMOVED FROM THE SITE 400 CUBIC YARDS