The Torrance Police Department issued an alert for the city, notifying them that the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery had an explosion and fire early Saturday morning. Torrance officials said there was no chemical release and a citywide shelter-in-place order is not necessary, but those near the site should keep windows closed. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. No further details were immediately available. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. Thick smoke rose from a mangled, multiple-story portion of the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery, located south of the 405 Freeway, after the 8:50 a.m. blast. As a result, when the valve was needed during an emergency, it did not work as intended, and hydrocarbons were able to reach an ignition source. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. Redondo Beach News, Breaking News in Redondo Beach, CA 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The explosion sent ash raining down on. The SCAQMD didnt comment on Hahns request for the organization to reexamine the viability of alternative technologies to MHF, some of which may be more commercially available than they were at the time of the vote. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Member-Designated Transportation Projects, Fire erupts at Torrance refinery just hours before protest rally, announced safety rally at the refinery PBF had planned to hold for workers as a counterpoint to the demonstration, Manhattan Beach Office (By Appointment Only). Hours after an explosion ripped through a Torrance refinery, residents for miles around continue to grapple with ash, a gas odor and concerns over poor air quality while inspectors confirmed that a filtration device was the source of the blast. We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. PBF also reached a separate agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade an additional water monitor in 2020, according to Lafayette. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. Blast Blamed on Gas Buildup - Los Angeles Times If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just north of the Pacific Coast Highway, Assistant Torrance Fire Chief Robert Millea said. An explosion at the ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance today sent a plume of black smoke in the air and caused ash to cascade down on the area, but there were only two minor injuries. Liz Odendahl, Hahns spokeswoman, said in an interview that the supervisor was furious at the AQMDs decision to accept the refineries proffers. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. The AQMDs own reports warned that the ability of MHF to prevent formation of a vapor/aerosol cloud is highly uncertain and that a release of MHF will result in exposure to HF with the same health effects.. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. Torrance News - ABC7 Los Angeles The cause of the explosion was not known. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. Torrance firefighters . 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. Torrance Refinery on April 22 reported an unplanned flaring event, induced by damaged equipment, that sent an additional 765 pounds of SOx and 143 pounds of volatile organic compounds into the. TORRANCE, Calif. -- An explosion rocked an Exxon Mobil refinery on Wednesday morning, triggering a huge smokestack flare, raining down ash and leaving four with minor injuries, company and. Unfortunately, ExxonMobil, the owner-operator of the refinery at the time of the accident, did not respond to the CSBs requests for information detailing safeguards to prevent or mitigate a release of MHF, and therefore the agency was unable to fully explore this topic in its final report. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. The 2015 explosion, according to the CSB, caused the refinery to run at limited capacity for more than a year and raised gas prices in California costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. People gathered in protest at the refinery later in the afternoon on the 2-year anniversary of an explosion at the plant that left two people injured. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. The building has been undergoing renovations for some time, and the victims are believed to be remodelers working in one of the involved units, neighbors said. Several contractors were injured in the Feb. 18, 2015, blast that shut down the refinery for more than a year, leading to soaring gas prices in Southern California. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion in Torrance, CA - Zehl & Associates 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. And those who run the Torrance facility also say its refinery hasnt experienced an off-site leak of either HF or MHF since it opened in 1966. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The bottom line is Torrance Refinery now has the most advanced safety systems of any HF Alkylation Unit in California, the U.S., and the world.. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. The decision by the board came one week after the two refineries sent letters offering to install improved safety systems in the coming years if regulators ended their pursuit of new rules for the chemical. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. A buildup of natural gas caused the explosion that leveled a Torrance home, damaged scores of others and rained glass, stucco and other debris over a two-block area, investigators said. Overturned gas tanker explodes, killing 1 person, Texas mom in custody after 5 of her kids were stabbed, leaving 3 dead, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu said in a statement Saturday that he plans to ask the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to include Saturdays incident as part of an ongoing investigation into the problems at the trouble-plagued refinery that began two years ago. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen, cell 202-446-8094 or email public@csb.gov. Another fire? And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. Manhattan Beach Crime & Safety News | Manhattan Beach, CA Patch April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. CSB Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said, This explosion and near miss should not have happened, and likely would not have happened, had a more robust process safety management system been in place. It was unclear what caused the fire. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. Electrostatic precipitators are large machines that stand12 stories high and weigh more than 1,000 tons. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California, Drivers of Critical Chemical Safety Change, Process Safety Management for the 21st Century, Emergency Planning and Response (Preparedness), Website design & development by Americaneagle.com. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. A group of activists on Saturday marked the fifth anniversary of an explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers and prompted continuing concerns about the potential for an even more catastrophic incident and the release of toxic chemicals and fumes into local communities. First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. Had the tanks ruptured, the report said, it would have caused a massive release of MHF, which can be deadly to anyone who comes in contact with it. California fire crews respond to ExxonMobil refinery explosion - CBS News The battle over a highly toxic chemical used in oil refining recently received a fresh jolt, seven years after the substance became a regional cause celebre in the wake of an explosion that rocked the Torrance Refinery. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California - CBS News State of the Union CBS News App Ukraine Crisis COVID Pandemic CBS News Live Managing Your Money Essentials Shopping. / KCAL News. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. God may not warn us again.. Explosion, fire at ExxonMobil refinery rocks Torrance TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA Just before 9 a.m. on February 18, the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California exploded, shaking the surrounding community with the force of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake, and sending a quarter ton of sulfur oxide gas into the atmosphere. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. 4 Injured in Possible Gas Explosion at Torrance Apartment - KTLA Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. The explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. Edited by Rachel Barnes. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance plans on Tuesday to deliver a letter from its science advisory panel to Newsoms office urging him to request that Atty. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. proporcionarte nuestros sitios y aplicaciones; autenticar usuarios, aplicar medidas de seguridad y evitar el spam y los abusos, y. medir el uso que haces de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. The explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. More Stories Drone helps. I cant believe they dont have the guts to stand up and say, This is wrong and MHF needs to be out of our community, she said. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. The Torrance refinery has completed all safety enhancements and Valero has begun installation of some elements of safety measures structures and additional implementation is ongoing, said SCAQMD spokesperson Nahal Mogharabi in an email. A five-story processing unit had burst open, spewing industrial ash over a mile away that some mistook for snow and propelling a 40-ton hunk of equipment into the air.
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