Criminal investigation launched into explosion that injured almost 50

A criminal investigation has been launched, the injured recovering and dogs rescued but as of Thursday a growing band of officials were still trying to determine just what exploded outside Santa Paula early Tuesday morning and how to clean up the still volatile chemical mixture that sent dozens of people to local hospitals.

Three Santa Paula Firefighters that responded to a report of a non-hazardous sewage spill were first on the scene and were also injured when exposed to the unknown chemicals that exploded November 18 at about 3:45 a.m. 

The incident occurred at Santa Clara Waste Water Co., 815 Mission Rock Road, owned by Southern California Waste Water.

At least 46 people sought treatment from exposure to the approximately 1,000 gallons of chemicals ignited after the rear of a vacuum truck exploded.

One man working when the explosion occurred received “trauma” injuries according to Ventura County Public Health Medical Director Robert Levin, MD, while others had symptoms of toxic exposure including breathing difficulties, “runny noses” and itchy, burning eyes, among other complaints.

Following the explosion Ventura County Medical Center went into decontamination mode that soon included staff that exhibited symptoms of chemical exposure after treating those who had been at the scene.

At the time of the explosion the chemicals were splattered an estimated radius of 400-feet landing on buildings, roofs, equipment and running on the ground. 

Firefighters’ boots ignited and the tires on engines melted from spontaneous fires that caused the area to be abandoned and engines left behind as those in the area were transported to VCMC for treatment of exposure.

Highway 126 was closed from Peck to Wells roads for hours, residents and businesses within a one-mile radius evacuated, Briggs School closed and students taken to Olivelands School where all were picked up. Those already locked up at Todd Road Jail were put on lockdown with windows and doors shut, air conditioning turned off and those that could leave told they could not.

Those within a 3-mile radius of the evacuation area were also advised to shelter in place and avoid the outside air. 

At about 8:30 a.m. a vapor cloud over the Santa Clara Waste Water facility ignited setting several outbuildings and tanks on fire followed by more explosions, including one involving sulfuric acid. 

Due to the volatile nature of the unknown chemicals Ventura County Fire Department officials decided to allow the fire to burn throughout Tuesday when the evacuation was in place. 

Less than a dozen displaced people were reported at the Red Cross Shelter at the Community Center, which was deactivated Tuesday evening at about 7 p.m. after all were placed in alternate housing.

The evacuation area was later reduced to 1/2 mile.

At least four businesses in the area remained closed according to a Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services spokesman, including CARL, a shelter where about 60 dogs were removed from Wednesday.

Although Santa Paula Fire was the first responder and the company where the incident occurred has a Santa Paula address, the property is in the unincorporated area of the county.