California refinery fire out as 200 rush to hospitals
Source: Agencies |
August 8, 2012, Wednesday
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A FIRE at one of the largest United States refineries spewed thick black smoke over cities in the San Francisco Bay area, California, sending scores of residents to hospitals complaining of breathing problems.
The fire at Chevron's refinery in Richmond, about 16 kilometers northeast of San Francisco, was out early yesterday morning, San Francisco Bay area-based KGO-TV reported.
Chevron spokeswoman Heather Kulp, however, said at a 5am news conference that officials were conducting a controlled burn. "This is ensuring that the incident continues to be maintained under control."
Smoke and flames from the fire, which began around 6:15pm on Monday, could be seen for kilometers. It was contained and a shelter-in-place order lifted on Monday night.
The refinery is the largest producer of base oils on the US West Coast, processing up to 240,000 barrels of crude oil a day, according to the company's website.
The company said on Monday it did not know yet whether production would be affected. A 2007 fire shut down the refinery for most of that year's first earnings quarter.
Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, a town near the Chevron refinery, said about 200 people had sought help and more patients were arriving. Kaiser's Richmond Medical Center also said several dozen people came to the emergency room complaining of shortness of breath, but none was seriously ill.
Residents said they heard loud blasts around the time the fire broke out, although Chevron officials could not confirm those reports.
Daniela Rodriguez told the Contra Costa Times that she heard a "big boom" about the time the fire started. The 23-year-old resident said about an hour passed before she received an automated call from Contra Costa County to remain indoors. "I was feeling kind of nauseous and light-headed" from the smell, she told the newspaper.
The refinery produces gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel and lubricants, as well as chemicals used to manufacture many other products.
Chevron spokesman Nigel Hearne said the cause of the fire hasn't been determined and he wouldn't speculate on the cause. One employee suffered a minor injury.
A fire at the refinery in January 2007 injured two workers and spewed low levels of sulfur dioxide and other toxins into the air.
The fire at Chevron's refinery in Richmond, about 16 kilometers northeast of San Francisco, was out early yesterday morning, San Francisco Bay area-based KGO-TV reported.
Chevron spokeswoman Heather Kulp, however, said at a 5am news conference that officials were conducting a controlled burn. "This is ensuring that the incident continues to be maintained under control."
Smoke and flames from the fire, which began around 6:15pm on Monday, could be seen for kilometers. It was contained and a shelter-in-place order lifted on Monday night.
The refinery is the largest producer of base oils on the US West Coast, processing up to 240,000 barrels of crude oil a day, according to the company's website.
The company said on Monday it did not know yet whether production would be affected. A 2007 fire shut down the refinery for most of that year's first earnings quarter.
Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, a town near the Chevron refinery, said about 200 people had sought help and more patients were arriving. Kaiser's Richmond Medical Center also said several dozen people came to the emergency room complaining of shortness of breath, but none was seriously ill.
Residents said they heard loud blasts around the time the fire broke out, although Chevron officials could not confirm those reports.
Daniela Rodriguez told the Contra Costa Times that she heard a "big boom" about the time the fire started. The 23-year-old resident said about an hour passed before she received an automated call from Contra Costa County to remain indoors. "I was feeling kind of nauseous and light-headed" from the smell, she told the newspaper.
The refinery produces gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel and lubricants, as well as chemicals used to manufacture many other products.
Chevron spokesman Nigel Hearne said the cause of the fire hasn't been determined and he wouldn't speculate on the cause. One employee suffered a minor injury.
A fire at the refinery in January 2007 injured two workers and spewed low levels of sulfur dioxide and other toxins into the air.
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