And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. 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. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. 4.3 earthquake strikes near LA, Internet asks 'why did it - MEAWW 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. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. 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.. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. No further details were immediately available. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. 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. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. 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. More Stories Drone helps. The additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. 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.. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM The investigation of the Torrance explosion by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board revealed that a piece of equipment nearly crashed into a tank holding tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid a highly toxic chemical used to make high-octane gasoline. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. People, Donna Heise said, are becoming more aware if nothing else over the last seven years.. 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. 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. The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. 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. 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. "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. 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. ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery Sold Amid Report Of Potential Disaster 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. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". Prior to joining the Press-Telegram, she served as the Daily Breeze's lead city hall reporter. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. 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. 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. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. 6 Min Read. Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on Saturday's fire: Federal investigators in January said a failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast and that the aftermath could have been "catastrophic" had the equipment hit the unit housing MHF. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. On a day when activists marked the two-year anniversary of an explosion that rocked the then-ExxonMobil refinery and showered neighborhoods with industrial debris, another fire erupted at the troubled Torrance plant early Saturday. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. She currently lives in Inglewood. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . This is a breaking news story. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. 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. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. 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. in journalism from the University of Southern California. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. PBF also reached a separate agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade an additional water monitor in 2020, according to Lafayette. 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. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. Final CSB Report of Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, CA 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. 2022 Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. 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. 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. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. 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. 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. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. 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. 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. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. They heard a loud explosion, kind of like a sonic boom, said Jason Davis, who lives near the complex. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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.. Hire a Houston personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four ET), but there was no . And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. In the past 5 years alone, our Plant Explosion Lawyers have Won over $1 Billion for workers who were seriously injured and burned in refinery and industrial accidents, represented workers in connection with every major plant and refinery explosion in recent history, and recovered record-setting verdicts and settlements against the largest oil and gas companies in the world, including ExxonMobil, Williams, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. 'Large fire explosion' rocks ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery in 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Those improvements were completed in 2021 and are now in service, Lafayette said. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. 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.. Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. 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. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. 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. 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.. Steve Deuel said. God may not warn us again.. Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times 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. "It was like a loud sonic boom. 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. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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. Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. Principal Office: Houston Texas. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov.

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