South Mountain tank explodes, spills unknown quantity of crude oil

By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published:  December 02, 2009

By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula Times

The 60th Annual Optimist Club Christmas Parade started with a bang that left a cloud of smoke south of Saturday’s festivities when a 20,000-gallon crude oil tank exploded into flames. The tank exploded just before 10 a.m. Saturday, November 28 and although not heard along the parade route, the cloud of smoke rising from the South Mountain area was visible from East Main Street.

The Ventura County Fire Department responded to the scene of the explosion located near 17900 South Mountain Road. According to the VCFD, the explosion and fire were limited to the tank and its platform.

The explosion released an unknown amount of oil - a photo of a pool of crude oil released by the explosion appeared later Saturday on an online blogger’s website - but the flow was stopped within 45 minutes. A hazardous materials unit, Ventura County Environmental Health, State Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Fish and Game were all notified of the explosion and spill. There were no injuries reported and no order of evacuation, although South Mountain Road was closed briefly.

According to the VCFD incident report, the tank’s owner was listed as Hunter Oil. The cause of the explosion was unknown and remains under investigation.

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