The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. 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 CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. The work of the Safety Auditor was overseen by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge and approved prior to use of MHF at the refinery.. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plant's crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. 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.. 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. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. By Nichola Groom 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 injuring four workers and shattering windows of surrounding buildings, authorities said. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Best coffee city in the world? Refinery spokeswoman Betsy Brien said the fire was quickly extinguished and the Del Amo Boulevard barriers were activated to close the road under an abundance of caution.. 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. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. It was unclear what caused the fire. 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 . Paige Austin, Patch Staff. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen, cell 202-446-8094 or email public@csb.gov. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. Two others sustained minor injuries. Were also the only law firm in the country thats currently representing over 65 of the workers who were injured in the Williams Geismar explosion, as well as 3 of the 4 workers who were tragically killed in the October 2015 Williams explosion in Gibson, Louisiana. 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. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. 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). All communications are private and confidential. 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. 4 Injured in Possible Gas Explosion at Torrance Apartment - KTLA Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times SUBSCRIBE Copyright 2022, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell My Personal. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. She currently lives in Inglewood. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. That update was completed last year as well. 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. Gavin Newsom to call for an investigation into the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at the facility, now operated by Torrance Refining Co., as well as by Valeros Wilmington refinery. All communications are private and confidential. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". Chairperson Sutherland said, Adoption of and adherence to a robust safety management process would have prevented these other incidents. Flares from the stack, part of a safety relief valve system, are part of normal operations that occasionally produce a rumbling sound, like distant thunder, caused by turbulent mixing of vapors. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. The Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. 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. 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. Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. 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. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. "I just appreciate that I'm here. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . There was no sign of an announced safety rally at the refinery PBF had planned to hold for workers as a counterpoint to the demonstration so they could reflect upon the (2015) incident.. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. 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 motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. But at the time, theyd never heard of MHF and didnt think much of it. Please enter valid email address to continue. Refinery officials, though, say MHF was specifically designed to be safer than its non-modified original hydrofluoric acid and has been reviewed by experts and deemed the best catalyst for the refining process. TORRANCE, Calif. (KABC) -- 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. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California - NBC News 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. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobil's refinery in Torrance, California. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. We are very proud of the many technical advances we have added to our Alkylation Unit over the years, the refinery says on its website, which is additional proof of our continuing commitment to safe, reliable operations.. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. 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. 4.3 earthquake strikes near LA, Internet asks 'why did it - MEAWW A smoke advisory was issued for areas near the ExxonMobil refinery due to Wednesday morning's explosion and fire. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. 4 Injured In Reported Explosion At Torrance Apartment Complex ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. Activists marking Torrance refinery explosion anniversary call for Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. For more than seven years, members of small, local activist groups have been irresponsibly making claims against the Refinerys use of MHF, without any basis in fact, Lafayette wrote recently. 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 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. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. 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. 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County, Over $38M stolen from low-income SoCal families, Newport Beach home dangling after cliffside collapse, High-speed rail from L.A. to Vegas: What we know, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries The cause of the explosion was not known. Fire erupts at Torrance refinery just hours before protest rally Manhattan Beach Crime & Safety News | Manhattan Beach, CA Patch 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. Numerous nearby residents complained about the air quality following the blast. 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. 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. 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. in journalism from the University of Southern California. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. 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. 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. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. 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