Firefighters in California have successfully contained a significant fire at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo, located approximately 20 miles southwest of Los Angeles. The incident occurred late Thursday when residents reported hearing a loud blast around 9:30 PM local time, accompanied by visible flames and smoke near the facility.
City officials have indicated that there are currently no evacuation orders and no immediate threat to the public. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Chevron reported that the fire was isolated, confirming that all personnel and contractors at the refinery have been accounted for and that there were no injuries. Additionally, the company stated that its fence-line monitoring system detected no exceedances, and local emergency response agencies have not issued evacuation orders.
While the exact extent of the damage to the refinery is unclear, the facility plays a crucial role in supplying jet fuel to the nearby Los Angeles airport, and officials have stated that airport operations continue as normal. The El Segundo refinery, constructed in 1911, is Chevron’s second largest in the U.S., producing 285,000 barrels of crude oil daily. It is responsible for approximately 20% of the motor vehicle fuel and 40% of jet fuel used in Southern California.
Local officials are closely monitoring air quality in the area to assess any potential pollution from the incident. Mayor Chris Pimentel noted that the fire was quickly addressed by local firefighters, who had immediate access to the scene. As the investigation continues, residents expressed concern over the loud blast and its implications, with some unsure of what had occurred.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2zj84vwe9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss