A powerful explosion at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery late Thursday night triggered a massive fire that sent flames and thick plumes of smoke into the sky above the South Bay, alarming residents across Los Angeles County.
The blast occurred around 9:30 p.m., rattling nearby neighborhoods and prompting calls to emergency services. Witnesses reported feeling the shockwave, with one resident telling the Los Angeles Times, “I thought we got nuked or something.”
Fire crews from the refinery’s in-house team, joined by local fire departments, quickly responded and managed to contain the flames to one section of the sprawling facility by about 10:30 p.m. Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Authorities issued shelter-in-place advisories for parts of north Manhattan Beach and surrounding communities as a precaution, though no evacuations were ordered. The advisories were lifted early Friday morning after air quality checks showed no immediate hazards.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass assured residents that operations at nearby Los Angeles International Airport were not disrupted, while Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell emphasized that the fire remained confined and under control.
Chevron confirmed the incident and reported emergency flaring at the site, a standard safety measure used to relieve pressure in refinery systems during emergencies. The company has not yet released details about what caused the explosion.
The El Segundo facility, one of the largest refineries on the West Coast, processes roughly 290,000 barrels of crude oil per day and spans more than 1,000 acres. Its operations are critical to supplying fuel across Southern California.
Officials said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the blast, assess structural damage, and evaluate any potential environmental impacts.
For now, authorities are urging patience and vigilance as the refinery and local agencies continue to monitor the situation.
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