The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. 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. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. 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 SCAQMD didnt comment on Hahns request for the organization to reexamine the viability of alternative technologies to MHF, some of which may be more commercially available than they were at the time of the vote. 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.. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. 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 motion also instructs county departments to review existing health and safety measures related to MHF including emergency precautions in case of an accidental leak. 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. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. Edited by Rachel Barnes. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. 6 Min Read. When you think about it, she said, it makes you not want to sleep at night.. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. God may not warn us again.. 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. 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. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. 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. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. 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. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. 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. We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. Refinery officials, though, say MHF was specifically designed to be safer than its non-modified original hydrofluoric acid and has been reviewed by experts and deemed the best catalyst for the refining process. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. Homes shook in . There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. 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 blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. Numerous nearby residents complained about the air quality following the blast. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. Authorities said the incident happened around 6 a.m. and 36 firefighters responded to the refinery. 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. 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.. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. All rights reserved. Let's get out of here. 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. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Overturned gas tanker explodes, killing 1 person, Texas mom in custody after 5 of her kids were stabbed, leaving 3 dead, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. A powerful blast at an ExxonMobil oil refinery rocked Torrance, California, on Wednesday. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . Across California, CA | News | 15h. 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. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. All Rights Reserved. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. In the late 1980s, ExxonMobil and Phillips 66 jointly created modified hydrofluoric acid, which boasts a chemical additive that, when used in high enough concentrations, can prevent the poisonous chemical from dispersing. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. 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 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. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. The additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. 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. 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. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. More Stories Drone helps. 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. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. 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. 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. 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. Just before 9 that morning, pent-up gases at ExxonMobil's Torrance refinery south of Los Angeles had triggered an explosion so massive it registered as a magnitude-1.7 tremor. Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. 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. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. 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. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. Torrance fire Capt. 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. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. Four were taken to hospitals. If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. 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). 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.. The explosion sent ash raining down on. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. 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. Another fire? 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. 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. But the proposed ban on MHF is far from the first cost passed onto consumers: 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 billion. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. "It was like a loud sonic boom. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. Redondo Beach Local News. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. 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. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the 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. 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 CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. 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. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. 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 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. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. Three were treated and released. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. It was unclear what caused the fire. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. 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. Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. 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. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. 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. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. Tests have shown that MHF, which Torrance has used since 1997, rapidly expands upon release and can travel at lethal concentrations up to two miles, according to a presentation from AQMD staff. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. If you or a loved one were injured or burned in a plant or refinery fire, contact ourplant and refinery accident attorneysfor a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. Torrance firefighters . 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. 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. Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. With the addition of these voluntary safety enhancements and other obligations completed and operating, we have fulfilled our obligation to further protect Refinery personnel and the community, Lafayette said. 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. They heard a loud explosion, kind of like a sonic boom, said Jason Davis, who lives near the complex. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Electrostatic precipitators are large machines that stand12 stories high and weigh more than 1,000 tons. 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. Chairperson Sutherland said, Adoption of and adherence to a robust safety management process would have prevented these other incidents. She currently lives in Inglewood. The AQMD scrapped the potential ban in 2019 instead accepting proffers from both refineries that promised to make safety enhancements to their existing MHF units. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. 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 explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. 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 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. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. 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. The incident caused the refinery to be . 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.. Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. 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. Residents touted the move, introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn and timed to the anniversary, while PBF, in a statement, criticized the county boards vote. 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. I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. 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. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. 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. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. 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