Four firefighters have sued the Santa Clara Waste Water Co. over injuries they said they sustained at the scene of a chemical explosion at the company's plant a year ago.
Santa Paula firefighters Matt May, Matt Lindsey and Milo Bustillos along with Ventura County firefighter Lucas Beller filed the suit last week, alleging negligence and misrepresentation.
They sustained serious pulmonary and other injuries based on assurances from employees that the facility near Santa Paula was safe to enter, the lawsuit says.
The Santa Paula firefighters went out on disability leave after the incident Nov. 18, 2014, and remain off work. They have declined to be interviewed.
Beller said Monday that he has returned to work and did not take any disability leave, declining additional comment until he speaks with his labor union.
The suit seeks general and punitive damages of an unspecified amount, plus payments for loss of earnings and medical costs.
A court hearing is scheduled April 11 before Superior Court Judge Vincent O'Neill.