explosion in torrance today
Instead, if a leak occurred, a ground-hugging liquid cloud would form, according to a 2018 report from the Torrance refinery defending its use of the chemical. But at the time, theyd never heard of MHF and didnt think much of it. 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. 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. 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.. Let's get out of here. 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). After protests and intensified public pressure from such activists as the Heises mounted in 2017, the AQMDs Proposed Rule 1410 became a key focus of the agencys Governing Board. 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. 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. Residents touted the move, introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn and timed to the anniversary, while PBF, in a statement, criticized the county boards vote. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. 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. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. 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. 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. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. Those calls for a ban remain. 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 CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM 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. Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. 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 CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. 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 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. 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.. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. 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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? 6 Min Read. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. Unfortunately, ExxonMobil, the owner-operator of the refinery at the time of the accident, did not respond to the CSBs requests for information detailing safeguards to prevent or mitigate a release of MHF, and therefore the agency was unable to fully explore this topic in its final report. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. Two others sustained minor injuries. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. 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 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. CSB Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said, 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. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. 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. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. Principal Office: Houston Texas. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. "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.". Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. 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 South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. The explosion, which happened . 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. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . 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. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. All communications are private and confidential. Numerous nearby residents complained about the air quality following the blast. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. 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. Authorities said the incident happened around 6 a.m. and 36 firefighters responded to the refinery. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobils refinery in Torrance, California. All rights reserved. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. 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. 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. in communication and M.S. 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. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. 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. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. Several contractors were injured in the Feb. 18, 2015, blast that shut down the refinery for more than a year, leading to soaring gas prices in Southern California. Redondo Beach Local News. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. 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. The explosion sent ash raining down on. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. Steve Deuel said. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. But we had no idea about the danger.. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. The Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. Please enter valid email address to continue. More Stories Drone helps. 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.. 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. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. Liz Odendahl, Hahns spokeswoman, said in an interview that the supervisor was furious at the AQMDs decision to accept the refineries proffers. 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. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. 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 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. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. 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. The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. 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. Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. Hire a Houston personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. 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. 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. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Across California, CA | News | 15h. 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. All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. 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. 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. The bottom line is Torrance Refinery now has the most advanced safety systems of any HF Alkylation Unit in California, the U.S., and the world.. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. This is a breaking news story. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". 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. 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 . The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. All Rights Reserved. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. 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. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. 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. TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. 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. First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. 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. 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. 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. In 2004, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said much the same in an environmental analysis the agency did when Valero introduced MHF at its Wilmington refinery. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. 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. They heard a loud explosion, kind of like a sonic boom, said Jason Davis, who lives near the complex. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. 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. 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.. That update was completed last year as well. Four were taken to hospitals. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. 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. The cause of the explosion was not known. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. 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. 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.
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