Across California, CA | News | 15h. Edited by Rachel Barnes. 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. All Rights Reserved. Liz Odendahl, Hahns spokeswoman, said in an interview that the supervisor was furious at the AQMDs decision to accept the refineries proffers. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. Explosion Rips Through Torrance Refinery, Shakes South Bay in communication and M.S. 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. 4.3 earthquake strikes near LA, Internet asks 'why did it - MEAWW Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery Rocked by Large Explosion - KTLA Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. The incident caused the refinery to be . 4 Injured in Possible Gas Explosion at Torrance Apartment - KTLA Torrance firefighters . 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. TORRANCE An explosion and fire in a gasoline processing unit rocked the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance today, injuring three workers and sending flames and ash into the sky. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. 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. 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. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. Torrance fire Capt. The Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. 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. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. 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. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. 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. / KCAL News. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. 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. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. 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. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. 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. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. 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. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash 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. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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 CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. They heard a loud explosion, kind of like a sonic boom, said Jason Davis, who lives near the complex. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. 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. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. 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. 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. 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. 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. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. "It was like a loud sonic boom. 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. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. 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. All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. 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. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. 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. U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. 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.. Four were taken to hospitals. 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. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. 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. 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 its final report, the CSB describes multiple gaps in the refinerys process safety management system, allowing for the operation of the FCC unit without pre-established safe operating limits and criteria for a shut down. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. ET), but there was no . 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.. A powerful blast at an ExxonMobil oil refinery rocked Torrance, California, on Wednesday. The CSBs report emphasizes that it is critical that hydrocarbons do not flow into the air side of the FCC unit, as this can create an explosive atmosphere. All rights reserved. Redondo Beach Local News. 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. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. 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). In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. 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. 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 explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. 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. Let's get out of here. People, Donna Heise said, are becoming more aware if nothing else over the last seven years.. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. 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. Refinery officials those from ExxonMobil, which owned the Torrance Refining Company during the explosion, and current owner PBF Energy have repeatedly pushed back on that conclusion, saying MHF doesnt pose a widespread threat. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. North Torrance resident Daphne Wong, her husband, Eng, and their three children, ages 5 to 9, all walked to the refinery together despite the rain. 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. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. 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. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four 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. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. 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. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. 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.. 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.. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. Cuando utilizas nuestros sitios y aplicaciones, usamos. The ExxonMobil near-disaster you probably haven't heard of 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. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. Authorities said the incident happened around 6 a.m. and 36 firefighters responded to the refinery. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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 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. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. The refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. It was unclear what caused the fire. All rights reserved. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. The PBF Energy facility has been plagued with a series of incidents since the massive blast two years ago that almost caused a catastrophic release of highly toxic hydrofluoric acid that could have killed and injured thousands. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. 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. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. Torrance Refinery cited for failing to properly maintain equipment 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. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in 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. 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. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four 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.. 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. I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. 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. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. 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 . Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. "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.". 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. Those calls for a ban remain. 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. Three were treated and released. 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.. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. 4 Injured In Reported Explosion At Torrance Apartment Complex 2022 Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. 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. 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 large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. 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 explosion sent ash raining down on. Another fire? A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. 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 - ABC7 Los Angeles The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. The cause of the explosion was not known. 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. 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. Homes shook in . TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. 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. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. 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. 6 Min Read. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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..

Reuge Music Box Replacement Parts, Live Surf Cam From Cocoa Beach Pier, Articles E