Chevron Refinery Fire in El Segundo: Investigation Launched to Uncover Cause of Blaze

The fire at Chevron’s refinery in El Segundo has been put out. Chevron announced this on their website, stating they are investigating the cause of the incident. Thankfully, all workers and contractors were safe, and no injuries were reported. As a precaution, Chevron’s Health Safety and Environmental team monitored air quality in the nearby community.

The fire erupted late Thursday, lighting up the skies across Southern California. Residents in El Segundo and Manhattan Beach were advised to stay indoors due to visible flames reaching heights of 200 to 300 feet. One local, Davond Dade, described the experience: “I looked north and saw glows. Turning south, the flames were just incredible. It felt particularly close to home.”

This wasn’t the first fire at the Chevron refinery. In fact, there have been four fires reported since 2016, with the most recent occurring in 2022. According to El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel, Cal/OSHA is investigating the incident. He mentioned that safety measures are continuously improving, but incidents can occur due to the nature of the materials involved.

Despite concerns about air quality and potential gas price increases, local experts suggest that damage was limited, leading to a small expected rise in gas prices—between five to fifteen cents per gallon. Matt McClain from GasBuddy noted that this is far less than initial fears.

Overall, the incident highlights ongoing safety challenges in industrial areas. Chevron will likely face scrutiny, but prompt actions taken during the incident have minimized harm to the community. For details on air quality and further updates, you can visit Chevron’s official report here.

As we reflect on past events, it’s clear that while industrial fires can be alarming, improved protocols and rapid responses can significantly reduce risks.

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