Editing Santa Paula, California (section)

== Disasters ==
The town has been devastated by floods, fires, and was once affected by a nearby truck explosion that resulted in an industrial disaster.

=== Floods ===

==== The Great Flood of 1862 ====
{{Main|Great Flood of 1862}}

The [[Great Flood of 1862]] began on December 24, 1861, when it rained for almost four weeks, reaching a total of {{convert|35 |inch}} at [[Los Angeles]].

==== St. Francis Dam Disaster ====
{{Main|St. Francis Dam#Collapse and flood wave}}

The failure and near complete collapse of the [[St. Francis Dam]] took place in the middle of the night on March 12, 1928. The dam was holding a full reservoir of 12.4 billion gallons (47 billion liters) of water that surged down San Francisquito Canyon and emptied into the Santa Clara River. The town was first hit by the waters at approximately 3:00&nbsp;a.m. Though hundreds of homes and structures were destroyed, the loss of life would have been greater if it were not for two motorcycle police officers that noisily warned as many people as possible.<ref>(March 12, 2008) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/2008/mar/12/the-st-francis-dam-disaster-80th-anniversary-a/ "St. Francis Dam disaster: A tale of failure, tragedy and heroism"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522055141/http://www.vcstar.com/news/2008/mar/12/the-st-francis-dam-disaster-80th-anniversary-a/ |date=May 22, 2014 }} ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> A sculpture called "The Watchers" in downtown Santa Paula depicts this act of heroism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://m.santapaulatimes.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/31744/The_Warning:_Famed_Santa_Paula_statue_warns_passersby_about_COVID-19!_______.html|title=The Warning: Famed Santa Paula statue warns passersby about COVID-19!|date=March 31, 2020|newspaper=Santa Paula Times|language=en-US|access-date=April 1, 2020|archive-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124090455/http://m.santapaulatimes.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/31744/The_Warning:_Famed_Santa_Paula_statue_warns_passersby_about_COVID-19!_______.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Wildfires===
====Thomas Fire====
{{main|Thomas Fire}}

In December 2017, the Thomas Fire broke out nearby. While it was the largest [[List of California wildfires|wildfire in modern California history]] at the time, the [[Santa Ana winds]] drove the fire toward [[Ventura, California|Ventura]] and [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]]. Over a thousand structures were destroyed which included a few out buildings just outside the city. It was finally confirmed to be fully contained in January 2018, and a reported 281,893 acres (440 sq mi; 114,078 ha) had burned. One firefighter and one civilian were the only fatalities directly caused by the fire. The cost of the fire rose to be an estimated $297 million.

====Maria Fire====
{{main|Maria Fire}}

On October 31, 2019, the Maria Fire was reported burning at the top of South Mountain between Santa Paula and [[Somis]] and expanded throughout that evening.<ref name="South Mountain explodes">{{cite news |last1=Carlson |first1=Cheri |last2=Diskin |first2=Megan |last3=Jazi |first3=Mo Najafian |title=Maria Fire atop South Mountain explodes between Santa Paula and Somis |work=[[Ventura County Star]] |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2019/10/31/crews-mount-string-response-new-fire-breaks-out-santa-paula/4113674002/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105073518/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2019/10/31/crews-mount-string-response-new-fire-breaks-out-santa-paula/4113674002/ |archive-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref> Heavily influenced by {{convert|20|-|30|mph|abbr=on}}  winds within the canyons, the fire became a full scale conflagration, growing from {{Convert|50| to| 750| acres}} inside an hour, to over {{Convert|4,000|acre|km2|0}} after several hours.<ref name="South Mountain explodes" /><ref name="Explodes to 4,000 acres">{{cite web |last1=Wigglesworth |first1=Alex |title=Brush fire in Ventura County explodes to 4,000 acres, prompting evacuations |url=https://ktla.com/2019/10/31/maria-fire-ignites-on-top-of-south-mountain-near-santa-paula/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105034507/https://ktla.com/2019/10/31/maria-fire-ignites-on-top-of-south-mountain-near-santa-paula/ |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |access-date=October 31, 2019 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> The fire worked its way north towards Santa Paula where the topography of the [[Santa Clara River Valley]] which can serve as a funnel for [[Santa Ana winds]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Fry |first1=Hanna |last2=Puente |first2=Mark |last3=Lin II |first3=Rong-Gong |last4=Wigglesworth |first4=Alex |date=November 1, 2019 |title=Maria fire charges toward Santa Paula neighborhoods, forcing additional evacuations |language=en-US |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-31/maria-fire-south-mountain |url-status=live |access-date=November 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106141702/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-31/maria-fire-south-mountain |archive-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref> Mandatory evacuations were ordered for a wide swath of over 1,800 homes surrounding the fire area, affecting over 7,500 residences.<ref name="South Mountain explodes" /><ref name="Explodes to 4,000 acres" />

=== Santa Clara Waste Water plant industrial disaster ===
{{Main|Santa Clara Waste Water explosion}}
A [[vacuum truck]] exploded at the Santa Clara Waste Water plant in the early morning hours of November 18, 2014. Two workers were injured in the initial explosion, three responding fire-fighters were injured by the fumes from the spill of a highly volatile chemical mixture, and 50 others were exposed to fumes and required treatment at local hospitals.<ref>The Associated Press (November 19, 2014) [http://www.miamiherald.com/living/health-fitness/article4010237.html "Crews try to ID substance in Calif. plant fire"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129101246/http://www.miamiherald.com/living/health-fitness/article4010237.html |date=November 29, 2014 }} ''[[Miami Herald]]''</ref><ref>Wenner, Gretchen (November 26, 2014) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/oxnard/oxnard-shuts-out-santa-clara-waste-water-from-sewer-system_94457633 "Oxnard shuts out Santa Clara Waste Water from sewer system"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203072445/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/oxnard/oxnard-shuts-out-santa-clara-waste-water-from-sewer-system_94457633 |date=December 3, 2014 }} ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> The driver was transporting waste from a temporary storage drum to a processing center when he stopped to take a meal break.<ref>Wilson, Kathleen and Von Quednow, Cindy (November 21, 2014) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/officials-consider-limited-access-to-area-near-santa-paula-chemical-explosion_64965397 "Truck explosion near Santa Paula draws scrutiny"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219054518/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/officials-consider-limited-access-to-area-near-santa-paula-chemical-explosion_64965397 |date=December 19, 2014 }} ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> The rear of the truck exploded, spreading a white liquid over a {{convert|300|by|400|ft|m|adj=mid|area}} that spontaneously combusted as it dried and was sensitive to shock, pressure and the application of water or oxygen. The tires of the first fire truck on the scene and the boots of three firefighters sparked small explosions when they drove and walked over the substance as they went to help the injured workers.<ref>Von Quednow, Cindy (November 18, 2014) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/ventura/officials-working-to-decontaminate-people-at-vcmc-exposed-to-substance-in-santa-paula-explosion_29956958 "Santa Paula chemical explosion causes injuries, evacuations, road closures"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121224700/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/ventura/officials-working-to-decontaminate-people-at-vcmc-exposed-to-substance-in-santa-paula-explosion_29956958 |date=November 21, 2014 }} ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref><ref>Rocha, Veronica (November 18, 2014) [http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-five-people-hospitalized-after-chemical-truck-explosion-20141118-story.html "2 dozen treated after truck explodes; chemical hits air, ignites"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119053156/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-five-people-hospitalized-after-chemical-truck-explosion-20141118-story.html |date=November 19, 2014 }} ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''</ref> The incident evolved into a disaster when later in the morning additional materials began to burn and explode, which resulted in a {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in|adj=mid|-long plume of toxic smoke}} and the closing of [[California State Highway 126|Highway 126]].<ref>Kelly, Peggy (November 27, 2014) [http://santapaulatimes.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/29492/_913-mile_plume_of_toxic_smoke_92:_VC_Sheriff_declares_emergency_in_wake_of_SCWW_blasts,_fires.html "‘3-mile plume of toxic smoke’: VC Sheriff declares emergency in wake of SCWW blasts, fires"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129213326/http://www.santapaulatimes.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/29492/_913-mile_plume_of_toxic_smoke_92:_VC_Sheriff_declares_emergency_in_wake_of_SCWW_blasts,_fires.html |date=November 29, 2014 }} ''Santa Paula Times''</ref> Chemical smoke drifted over the area and nearby residents and businesses were required to evacuate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Aguilar |first=Mercedes |date=November 22, 2014|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/town-hall-meeting-schedule-in-santa-paula-after-explosion_10832450 |title=Evacuation order lifted near Santa Paula explosion site|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208110741/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/town-hall-meeting-schedule-in-santa-paula-after-explosion_10832450|archive-date=December 8, 2014}}</ref>

==== Cause ====
About {{convert|1000|USgal|l impgal|}} of a chemical mixture consisted of some sort of [[organic peroxide]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Von Quednow |first=Cindy |date=November 19, 2014 |url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/officials-hope-to-identify-chemical-in-santa-paula-explosion-clean-up-scene_53863252 |title=Officials work to identify, clean up chemical in Santa Paula explosion |newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223032329/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/officials-hope-to-identify-chemical-in-santa-paula-explosion-clean-up-scene_53863252|archive-date=December 23, 2014}}</ref> Three weeks after the incident, the substance was still highly susceptible to friction and seemed to react to something as slight as wind.<ref name=Cleanup>Wilson, Kathleen (December 5, 2014) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/environment/cleanup-of-spill-slow-as-county-shuts-plant-indefinitely_47200796 "Cleanup of spill slow as county shuts plant indefinitely"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324060659/http://www.vcstar.com/news/environment/cleanup-of-spill-slow-as-county-shuts-plant-indefinitely_47200796 |date=March 24, 2015 }} ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> [[Sodium chlorite]] was identified in an internal investigation by the firm in the months following the disaster. They claimed that the chemical was being using as a water treatment agent for the first time and was stored in the same type of storage container as wastewater.<ref name=Accidental/>{{dead link|date=May 2017}} The worker combined the chemical with wastewater in the vacuum truck where the chemical interacting with [[organic material]] caused an explosion that blew off the back of the truck. A former county district attorney, retained by a company attorney, issued a report in March 2015 that provided an explanation of events indicating that the worker may have accidentally combined the chemicals.<ref name=Accidental>{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/accidental-mixture-led-to-blast-former-da-says_48779880|title=Accidental mixture led to blast, former DA says|first=Kathleen|last=Wilson|work=[[Ventura County Star]]|date=March 3, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306192718/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/accidental-mixture-led-to-blast-former-da-says_48779880|archive-date=March 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name=Chemical>Wilson, Kathleen (February 9, 2015) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/county-news/chemical-that-triggered-santa-paula-blast-identified_47049879 "Chemical that triggered Santa Paula blast identified"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211084120/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/county-news/chemical-that-triggered-santa-paula-blast-identified_47049879 |date=February 11, 2015 }}  ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> Later, investigators found that an inspection by a [[Defense Logistics Agency]] contractor was scheduled for that morning and officials of the firm had directed the transfer of these hazardous materials to another location.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ccjdigital.com/crime-report-third-party-cdl-tester-convicted-drug-testing-firm-shut-down/|title=Crime report: Eleven indicted after explosion of vacuum cargo tank trailer|work=Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) Online|publisher=Randall-Reilly|location=Tuscaloosa, AL|first=Matt|last=Cole|date=September 8, 2015|access-date=September 9, 2015|archive-date=September 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929021100/http://www.ccjdigital.com/crime-report-third-party-cdl-tester-convicted-drug-testing-firm-shut-down/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Aftermath ====
Although the explosion and resulting fumes caused injuries including the lungs of three fire-fighters who remained off-duty indefinitely, the material scattered around the site was found to be non-hazardous for clean-up purposes.<ref name=Crops>Wilson, Kathleen (December 16, 2014) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/environment/crops-cleared-but-farm-losses-from-blast-estimated-at-1-million_14848404 "Crops cleared but farm losses from blast estimated at $1 million"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220051946/http://www.vcstar.com/news/environment/crops-cleared-but-farm-losses-from-blast-estimated-at-1-million_14848404 |date=December 20, 2014 }} ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> The two fire engines that arrived first were scrapped. A local emergency was declared that lasted for three months.<ref name=declaration>Wilson, Kathleen (February 10, 2015) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/county-news/supervisors-call-off-emergency-declaration-triggered-by-plant-explosion_10201534 "County calls off emergency declaration triggered by plant explosion"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211095004/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/county-news/supervisors-call-off-emergency-declaration-triggered-by-plant-explosion_10201534 |date=February 11, 2015 }} ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref><ref name=Chemical/><ref>Staff (November 27, 2014) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/local-emergency-declared-for-santa-paula-explosion-fire_62473131 "Local emergency declared for Santa Paula explosion, fire"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203072438/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/local-emergency-declared-for-santa-paula-explosion-fire_62473131 |date=December 3, 2014 }} ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref><ref>Wilson, Kathleen (January 6, 2015) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/waste-company-sues-insurer-over-chemical-blast-cleanup_75183173 "Waste company sues insurer over chemical blast cleanup"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109204001/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/santa-paula/waste-company-sues-insurer-over-chemical-blast-cleanup_75183173 |date=January 9, 2015 }} ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversaw the decontamination of the site. The material was neutralized and solidified on site and taken to a landfill.<ref name=Crops/>

On August 7, 2015, a Ventura County grand jury indicted the Santa Clara Waste Water Co., the affiliated Green Compass and nine company executives and managers.{{r|VCS 2019/05/17}} Following the indictment, the [[district attorney]] had the nine defendants arrested on suspicion of several felonies and misdemeanors, including filing a false or forged instrument, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, known failure to warn of serious concealed danger, withholding information regarding a substantial danger to public safety, conspiracy to commit a crime, causing impairment of an employee's body, and disposal of hazardous waste.<ref>{{cite news|title=DA reports finding falsified records in Santa Clara Waste Water case|first=Kathleen|last=Wilson|date=August 19, 2015|work=[[Ventura County Star]]|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/county-news/judge-unseals-indictment-against-santa-clara-waste-water_27848718|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820124458/http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/county-news/judge-unseals-indictment-against-santa-clara-waste-water_27848718|archive-date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> The individuals pleaded guilty. The two corporate entities reached an agreement in June 2019 after they had already paid about $800,000 in restitution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/santa-paula/2019/06/06/plea-agreement-includes-2-8-m-those-injured-2014-chemical-blast/1373314001/|title=Corporations agree to pay $2.8M to victims in explosion at Santa Clara Waste Water site|last=Diskin|first=Megan|date=June 6, 2019|website=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=August 26, 2019|archive-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824093229/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/santa-paula/2019/06/06/plea-agreement-includes-2-8-m-those-injured-2014-chemical-blast/1373314001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="VCS 2019/05/17">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/17/santa-paula-wastewater-plant-reopen-proposal-passes-environmental-concerns/1191125001/|title=Reopening of explosion site near Santa Paula passes critical hurdle|last=Wilson|first=Kathleen|date=May 17, 2019|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=May 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528220448/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/17/santa-paula-wastewater-plant-reopen-proposal-passes-environmental-concerns/1191125001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/money/business/2019/08/23/2-65-million-restitution-ordered-santa-clara-waste-water-explosion/2099955001/|title=$2.65 million in restitution ordered in 2014 explosion near Santa Paula, chemical case|last=Childs|first=Jeremy|date=August 23, 2019|website=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=August 25, 2019|archive-date=August 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824053343/https://www.vcstar.com/story/money/business/2019/08/23/2-65-million-restitution-ordered-santa-clara-waste-water-explosion/2099955001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/santa-paula/2019/10/15/lawyers-push-progress-suits-over-2014-explosion-near-santa-paula/3949115002/|title=Lawyers push for progress on suits over 2014 explosion near Santa Paula|last=Diskin|first=Megan|date=October 15, 2019|website=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=October 16, 2019|archive-date=October 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017013706/https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/santa-paula/2019/10/15/lawyers-push-progress-suits-over-2014-explosion-near-santa-paula/3949115002/|url-status=live}}</ref>