The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California - NBC News Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobils refinery in Torrance, California. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. Torrance fire Capt. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in But HF is highly corrosive, posing a threat to nearby communities if it were dispersed as a gas during a fire, explosion or the like. The AQMD estimated that replacing the MHF alkylation units with a safer sulfuric acid unit would cost the Torrance refinery about $900 million, and could temporarily impact gasoline supply and cost. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. 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. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. Explosion, fire at ExxonMobil refinery rocks Torrance Redondo Beach Local News. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. Prior to joining the Press-Telegram, she served as the Daily Breeze's lead city hall reporter. 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. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 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. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . 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. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. Fire erupts at Torrance refinery just hours before protest rally 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. 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. 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 CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. All rights reserved. Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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.. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. People, Donna Heise said, are becoming more aware if nothing else over the last seven years.. 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. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. 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. Blast Blamed on Gas Buildup - Los Angeles Times God may not warn us again.. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. That failure ultimately allowed hydrocarbons to flow into the air side of the FCC, where they ignited in a piece of equipment called the electrostatic precipitator, or ESP, causing an explosion of the ESP. 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. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. 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. 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. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. Although there are alternative alkylation technologies under development, Lafayette said, they still need to be proven to be safe, mechanically reliable, and commercially viable at the scale of the Torrance Alkylation Unit.. 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. Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times 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. 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. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. 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. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". in communication and M.S. The explosion, the report said, launched a 40-ton piece of debris that nearly struck tanks carrying tens of thousands of pounds of MHF. Redondo Beach News, Breaking News in Redondo Beach, CA Chairperson Sutherland said, Adoption of and adherence to a robust safety management process would have prevented these other incidents. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. All communications are private and confidential. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. Additional locations: Dallas, TX | Midland, TX | Odessa, TX | Louisiana, Plant Explosion Lawyer Refinery & Pipeline, Railroad Crossing Accidents and Train Accidents, Longshore & Harbor Workers Compensation Act. 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. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. The additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. 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. No further details were immediately available. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. Hutchings holds a B.A. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. 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. California fire crews respond to ExxonMobil refinery explosion - CBS News Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. 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. Lieu commended the AQMD for its proposal to phase out the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at the plant, one of only two refineries in California to rely on MHF. 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. That update was completed last year as well. She currently lives in Inglewood. Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. 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. 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 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 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.. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. 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. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Fire, explosion reported at Torrance Refinery, police say 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. Three were treated and released. 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. Torrance News - ABC7 Los Angeles The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. Let's get out of here. The cause of the explosion was not known. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". 4 Injured in Possible Gas Explosion at Torrance Apartment - KTLA 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. Final CSB Report of Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, CA 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. 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. The Heises, for their part, are still working to educate residents in Torrance and Wilmington about their MHF concerns and are grateful the issue is still being monitored. The refinery relied on safeguards that could not be verified, and re-used a previous procedure deviation without a sufficient hazard analysis of the current process conditions. 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. 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. The motion also instructs county departments to review existing health and safety measures related to MHF including emergency precautions in case of an accidental leak. 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. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. Torrance firefighters . 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. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. 6 Min Read. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. All Rights Reserved. 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. Notably absent from the event was any sign of Torrance elected officials, although police officers in several patrol cars discreetly kept their eye on the peaceful protesters from a distance. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. 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. Activists marking Torrance refinery explosion anniversary call for Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . The Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. 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. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. 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. 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. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. All rights reserved. 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 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. Advocates renew call for MHF ban on 8th anniversary of Torrance 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. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. Cuando utilizas nuestros sitios y aplicaciones, usamos. Steve Deuel said. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. mostrar anuncios y contenido personalizados basados en perfiles de inters; medir la efectividad de los anuncios y el contenido personalizados, y. desarrollar y mejorar nuestros productos y servicios. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. 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. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. The explosion sent ash raining down on. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. But we had no idea about the danger.. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. The refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. 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. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. Four were taken to hospitals. And the incident was avoidable, CSB said: Mismanagement and improper safety protocols put in place by then-owner ExxonMobil who sold the refinery to PBF Energy shortly after the incident made the explosion likely. 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. 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.. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. 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. All communications are private and confidential. "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.". 2022 Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. 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. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. 4 Injured In Reported Explosion At Torrance Apartment Complex Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion in Torrance, CA - Zehl & Associates 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.. 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. 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. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week.

Faw Comet Login, Lemon Parfait Nigel Slater, How Much Does Lamar Jackson Make In Endorsements, Nightstand With Charging Station White, Articles E