Red substance shuts down Rancho Palos Verdes street

A Rancho Palos Verdes street was shut down Saturday afternoon while an ammunition box that a resident recovered while diving near Redondo Beach was examined, authorities said Sunday.

One item in the box, believed to be a flammable substance used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, caused responding deputies to call arson and explosives experts to the scene, according to Sgt. Roger Digerlando of the Lomita Sheriff's Station.

The substance, red phosphorus, is used in matchbook strike plates and clandestine methamphetamine labs, according to the a Web site for the state Department of Toxic and Substances Control and Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

The resident told deputies he went diving Saturday morning and found the box floating in the ocean. He retrieved it, put it in his boat and brought to his home on Littlebow Road.

He examined the box's contents and found a red powdery substance, a white spoon and red clay. Believing the substances may be explosive, he contacted deputies, who responded just before 5 p.m.

The street was closed for a couple hours before investigators left with the box.