The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. 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. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. Refinery Explosion Shakes Earth and Probably Gas Prices 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. 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 fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. 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 refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. The explosion, the report said, launched a 40-ton piece of debris that nearly struck tanks carrying tens of thousands of pounds of MHF. 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 large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. 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. Steve Deuel said. Those calls for a ban remain. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. Really? read one of the signs carried by chanting marchers who endured a steady downpour to protest the use of toxic hydrofluoric acid at the refinery. God may not warn us again.. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . Authorities said the incident happened around 6 a.m. and 36 firefighters responded to the refinery. Blast Blamed on Gas Buildup - Los Angeles Times Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. 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. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash 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. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. 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. 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.. Explosion Rips Through Torrance Refinery, Shakes South Bay The refinery has been under constant scrutiny since the explosion as small fires and flare ups have been reported since and raised concern among residents living nearby. 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. 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. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. The proposal had plenty of support: Reps. Nanette Barragan, Ted Lieu and Maxine Waters wrote letters urging the AQMD to pass the rule and phase MHF out of Southern California. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. 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. 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. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. Another fire? Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. Feb . We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. in journalism from the University of Southern California. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. 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. 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. Explosion, fire at ExxonMobil refinery rocks Torrance Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. 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. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. 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. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. 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. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The ExxonMobil near-disaster you probably haven't heard of 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. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email.