Calif. truck explosion injures several people, triggers evacuations

SANTA PAULA, Calif. -- A vacuum truck explosion Tuesday forced the evacuation of a neighborhood and businesses and sent several people to the hospital in Ventura County, CBS Los Angeles reports.

Approximately 1,000 gallons of an organic peroxide exploded from the truck at 3:46 a.m. at the Santa Clara Waste Water Company, 815 Mission Rock Road, in Santa Paula, the Ventura County Fire Department said.

Fire Capt. Mike Lindbery told CBS News that the explosion scattered the chemical, which began to crystallize and spontaneously ignite.

Firefighters had to leave one engine behind because its tires began to ignite as it rolled over the material.

Lindbery said water could worsen things because runoff might enter the nearby Santa Clara River so the fire is being left to burn.

A man inside the truck and three firefighters were transported to the Ventura County Medical Center with injuries. Another truck passenger was treated at the scene.

Officials said the chemical has also sickened 12 hospital employees at the VCMC emergency room. The hospital was working to contain the ER in order to prevent the chemical from affecting additional personnel, Ventura Fire Department Chief Douglas Miser said.

The cause of the explosion was unclear.

The Oxnard and Simi Valley fire departments were also assisting Ventura fire personnel in the full hazmat response.

Additional details were not released.