Explosion, fire at ExxonMobil refinery rocks Torrance 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. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. 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. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon - Patch Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. The crowd gathered at 10 a.m. at Columbia Park on 190th Street, cheering the remarks of Lieu, Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi and other speakers, before marching the short distance to the refinery. All communications are private and confidential. Residents touted the move, introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn and timed to the anniversary, while PBF, in a statement, criticized the county boards vote. torrance News Caught on video: Car-to-car shooting on 91 Freeway Video shows a shooting between people in two cars traveling on the freeway in the Long Beach area. 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. Those improvements were completed in 2021 and are now in service, Lafayette said. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. 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. This is a breaking news story. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. 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 Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. If you or a loved one were injured or burned in a plant or refinery fire, contact ourplant and refinery accident attorneysfor a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here. The state could potentially lose thousands of jobs, and it could result in higher gasoline prices at the pump for California residents, businesses, and government, Californians for a Sustainable Economy an association representing hundreds of local businesses wrote in opposition to the ban. 6 Min Read. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plants crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. "Emergency procedures have been activated to address the incident, and employees are working with the appropriate agencies," a statement by the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery said. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. A powerful blast at an ExxonMobil oil refinery rocked Torrance, California, on Wednesday. "I just appreciate that I'm here. The ExxonMobil Explosion That Nobody Is Talking About The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. Edited by Rachel Barnes. The latest salvo in the battle over MHF came last month, when the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors called for a ban on the highly toxic chemical. Four were taken to hospitals. 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. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. U.S. Chemical Safety Board. All Rights Reserved. Feb . 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. 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. Posted Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 5:20 pm PT. Across California, CA | News | 15h. 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. She currently lives in Inglewood. 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 refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. 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. 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. The AQMD scrapped the potential ban in 2019 instead accepting proffers from both refineries that promised to make safety enhancements to their existing MHF units. Cal/OSHA has shut down the fluid catalytic cracker and will only allow operations to resume once it can be exhibited that the unit can operate safely. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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.. 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. And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries Steve Deuel said. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. 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. ET), but there was no . Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. No further details were immediately available. People, Donna Heise said, are becoming more aware if nothing else over the last seven years.. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. 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.. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. 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. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. Two others sustained minor injuries. 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. I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. Those calls for a ban remain. Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. 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.. But the consequences, according to federal investigators, could have been far worse: The explosion, investigators wrote in a report two years later, nearly released tons of modified hydrofluoric acid, potentially putting thousands in the South Bay at risk. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. 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. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. 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. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. Let's get out of here. It was unclear what caused the fire. "It was like a loud sonic boom. More Stories Drone helps. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. 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. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. 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. The latest fire in an ongoing series of mishaps including leaks, excessive flaring and power outages that have plagued the refinery in recent months added fuel to the arguments of opponents that the plant is a safety and environmental hazard. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. 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. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. They have not yet completed their final investigation, and I will be asking the Chemical Safety Board to include todays fire and explosion as part of their investigation.. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. Numerous nearby residents complained about the air quality following the blast. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. Torrance firefighters . Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. 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. All communications are private and confidential. 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. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. Blast Blamed on Gas Buildup - Los Angeles Times The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. 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. 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. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . Hutchings holds a B.A. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance,, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries continues, Baby girl Winter of Lake Arrowhead is born amid raging blizzard, Texas congressman who broke with GOP is censured, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, More Iranian schoolgirls sickened in suspected poisoning wave, explosion that rocked the Torrance Refinery, according to a 2018 report from the Torrance refinery defending its use of the chemical, protests and intensified public pressure from such activists, Heres why AQMD committee chose enhanced safety measures over a ban on MHF at refineries in Wilmington and Torrance, LA public health official urges phasing out MHF chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries, Activists call for state investigation into use of toxic chemical at two South Bay refineries, Court rules ExxonMobil must give feds crucial data on 2015 Torrance refinery explosion, Explosion at Torrance ExxonMobil refinery injures 4; spike in gas prices expected, Alpine Village shopkeepers get confirmation: theyre being evicted, San Pedro Fish Market bids a sad goodbye to legacy location, Alpine Village, for decades a German American hub, faces unknown future, Appeals court ruling in Lunada Bay Boys case could make cities liable for surf localism, Gracie Abrams behind Good Riddance message in Los Angeles sky, Tax filing deadline moves to mid-October for most Californians, 6 suspects wanted for holding up armored cars for $550,000-plus in Hawthorne, LA and Inglewood, California weighs $360,000 in reparations to eligible Black residents, Hermosa Beach Police arrest 2 men suspected in shooting attempt, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The ExxonMobil near-disaster you probably haven't heard of First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. 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. 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. 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. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. 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 Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. Principal Office: Houston Texas. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 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. Every one of our lawyers is a Houston personal injury attorney whos undefeated in the courtroom and has recovered some of the largest verdicts and settlements in history. Since then, at least one leak of hydrofluoric acid and several fires have prompted the South Coast Air Quality Management District to propose a ban on hydrofluoric acid. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. 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. Advocates renew call for MHF ban on 8th anniversary of Torrance Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries 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. 4.3 earthquake strikes near LA, Internet asks 'why did it - MEAWW 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. When released, the chemical can form a deadly, ground-hugging cloud that, in the event of a major leak, could have caused serious injury or death to many community members, according to the agency. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. 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.