Fire erupts at Torrance refinery just hours before protest rally The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. In the late 1980s, ExxonMobil and Phillips 66 jointly created modified hydrofluoric acid, which boasts a chemical additive that, when used in high enough concentrations, can prevent the poisonous chemical from dispersing. 'Large fire explosion' rocks ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery in There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. Those safety enhancements, Lafayette said, include installing a new protective steel structure, water mitigation dome and curtain, an enhanced HF/MHF detection system, and additional water mitigation monitors. God may not warn us again.. All communications are private and confidential. 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. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. The CSB investigation also discovered that a large piece of debris from the explosion narrowly missed hitting a tank containing tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid, or MHF. Advocates renew call for MHF ban on 8th anniversary of Torrance Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. ET), but there was no . Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures., MHF was the subject of a thorough technology review by a court-appointed Safety Advisor with input from the City of Torrance, Gesuina Lafayette, PBFs community relations advisor said in a recent email. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bontas offices to take all possible actions to require refineries in California to convert from MHF to safer alternatives.. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. With the addition of these voluntary safety enhancements and other obligations completed and operating, we have fulfilled our obligation to further protect Refinery personnel and the community, Lafayette said. Three were treated and released. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. It provides 362 jobs around $30 million in wages in Torrance, according to its website. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. The cause of the explosion was not known. Minor injuries were reported after the explosion ripped apart structures at the oil refinery and shook homes for miles around the blast site in southern Los Angeles County. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. The remainder of the FCC unit is comprised of a portion of the reaction process and a series of pollution control equipment that uses air and is known as the air side of the unit. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery Sold Amid Report Of Potential Disaster A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. 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). Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. The refinery previously said that the citys Fire Department has the sole responsibility to decide what tools to use, when to use them, and what area within the community to notify. At the bottom of a public notice explaining the Torrance Community Warning System, however, ExxonMobil has the ability to initiate the use of the Community Alert Sirens and Crenshaw Street Barriers if an incident at the refinery warrants immediate community notification., The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and the Environmental Quality Committee has planned a joint hearing to address the emergency response in the Torrance refinery explosion. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. The blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. The refinery, where about 155,000 barrels of crude oil are processed each day, has been part of the South Bay landscape since the 1920s. The CSBs report emphasizes that it is critical that hydrocarbons do not flow into the air side of the FCC unit, as this can create an explosive atmosphere. 6 Min Read. Torrance Refinery cited for failing to properly maintain equipment The Torrance refinery, according to its website, has made several improvements, including a leak-detection system, upgraded water monitors, 24/7 automated, continuously monitored unit cameras and an expanded water mitigation system. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. 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. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. Let's get out of here. We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. Its unacceptable we were put in harms way, said Daphne Wong, who added that she does not believe the official line that Torrance is a safe community. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. The blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California - NBC News 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. 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. All rights reserved, Los Angeles County Holds Stable COVID-19 Hospitalization Rate, Tax Deadlines Extended to October for Most Californians Due to Storms, Check Your Pockets: These Coins Can Be Worth Up To $24,000, Glendale Neighborhood Frustrated After an Illegal Hostel Moves In, Road Rage Incident Kicks Off Pursuit, Carjacking, and Weapon Fired Out Window in Wild Chase, NASA Images Show Southern California Mountains Before and After Winter Storm. The explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment within feet of a structure that housed a highly volatile and toxic substance, modified hydrofluoric acid. Liz Odendahl, Hahns spokeswoman, said in an interview that the supervisor was furious at the AQMDs decision to accept the refineries proffers. Just before 9 that morning, pent-up gases at ExxonMobil's Torrance refinery south of Los Angeles had triggered an explosion so massive it registered as a magnitude-1.7 tremor. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon - Patch Still, the explosion led to further safety measures, some the refineries put in voluntarily and others they did so essentially at the behest of government agencies. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. 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. Activists marking Torrance refinery explosion anniversary call for Various elected officials have periodically attempted to rein in its use at the Torrance refinery and another in Wilmington, the only two in the state that use the chemical. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. 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. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. Fire, explosion reported at Torrance Refinery, police say Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. But we had no idea about the danger.. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. The modified HF catalyst reduces acid vapor pressure sufficiently to suppress the usual flash atomization process of hydrofluoric acid, that environmental impact report said, causing most of the acid to fall to the ground as an easily controlled liquid and reduces the potential for off-site consequences of an accidental HF release.. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. The incident caused the refinery to be . Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. The new campaign comes several months after air quality regulators killed a years-long push for stronger regulation of hydrofluoric acid at the two refineries. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. PUBLISHED: February 18, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. | UPDATED: February 18, 2023 at 8:01 a.m. It's been eight years since a massive explosion at the Torrance Refinery shook the South Bay with the blast. Redondo Beach Local News. The explosion, which happened . 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. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon Neighborhood - Redondo Beach, CA - The blast at the Torrance refinery could be seen for miles and caused 1.7 magnitude ground-shaking. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. 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, then-CSB Chairwoman Vanessa Allen Sutherland said in a statement at the time. California fire crews respond to ExxonMobil refinery explosion - CBS News Both the PBF and Valero refineries are situated in densely populated areas of the South Bay: About 245,000 people live within three miles of the Torrance refinery and another 153,000 live within that same distance of Valeros refinery, AQMD said. Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Tests have shown that MHF, which Torrance has used since 1997, rapidly expands upon release and can travel at lethal concentrations up to two miles, according to a presentation from AQMD staff. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. May 3, 2017, Torrance, CA, -- Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released its final report into the February 18, 2015, explosion at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. Environmentalists and concerned residents say MHF could prove catastrophic if the chemical were to escape, pointing to its corrosivity and studies that show its ability to travel beyond a refinerys footprint. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. 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. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. That 2015 blast registered as a small earthquake that shook nearby houses, injured four of the facilitys workers and covered the area in dust and ash. 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. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. The issues to be discussed include A decision not to use the ExxonMobil emergency siren to alert the community to the explosion and subsequent ash and dust fallout.. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. The incident caused the refinery to be run at limited capacity for over a year, raising gas prices in California and costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4 billion. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. Other groups including the refinerys unions and local businesses feared the potential economic fallout if the refineries were forced to transition to a safer alternative. Blast Blamed on Gas Buildup - Los Angeles Times Another fire? Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. Chairperson Sutherland said, There are valuable lessons to be learned and applied at this refinery, and to all refineries in the U.S. Keeping our refineries operating safely is critical to the well-being of the employees and surrounding communities, as well as to the economy.. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. More Stories Drone helps. Edited by Rachel Barnes. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. The cause of the fire, which Millea said burned an unspecified amount of crude oil, is under scrutiny by investigators from Cal-OSHA, the states worker safety agency, while a county hazardous materials team also was on the scene. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. "I kind of figured we had an earthquake, then I realized, living by the factory for all those years, they had a problem with the factory.". 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. Redondo Beach News, Breaking News in Redondo Beach, CA Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. Four were taken to hospitals. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. All rights reserved. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. Explosion reported in Torrance Fire department vehicles will patrol Los Angeles with vehicles and helicopters to identify the damage or emergency needs, it was reported. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. All communications are private and confidential. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four More than a day after the accident, no representative from ExxonMobil had directly contacted the Torrance fire chief and city officials still did not know what was in the substances that were released into the surrounding areas. Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. The explosion sent ash raining down on. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. "I just appreciate that I'm here. TORRANCE, Calif.- An explosion and fire ripped through a gasoline processing unit at an Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, near Los Angeles on Wednesday, slightly injuring four workers and shattering windows of surrounding buildings, authorities said.Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST (12 p.m. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) A New Jersey-based oil refining company announced Wednesday it is purchasing the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance that was badly damaged in a February explosion, with. No further details were immediately available. TORRANCE, Calif. (Reuters) - An explosion and fire ripped through a gasoline processing unit at an Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, near Los Angeles on Wednesday, slightly . Activists carried signs reading Congratulations PBF, zero days explosion free and All lives matter while chanting Hey, hey, ho, ho, MHF has got to go. Some said the turnout demonstrates the series of refinery disruptions has reached a crisis point. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. 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. The information you review on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.The verdicts and settlements that we have listed are simply intended to be representative of the cases that Zehl & Associates has handled for past clients; they are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome in your or any other lawsuit. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. 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