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. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. 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 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.. 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. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. 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. Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery Rocked by Large Explosion - KTLA At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobil's refinery in Torrance, California. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. 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. 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, then-CSB Chairwoman Vanessa Allen Sutherland said in a statement at the time. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries 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. 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. Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. 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. Blast Blamed on Gas Buildup - Los Angeles Times Those improvements were completed in 2021 and are now in service, Lafayette said. in journalism from the University of Southern California. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. 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. 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. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. / KCAL News. We cant assume we will be so lucky next time, whether that is another refinery accident, an earthquake, or God-forbid, an attack., The passage of the Supervisors motion is disappointing, she said in an email, because many of the points they make are both misleading and the projects are already in place, following agreements with several government agencies to install additional safety measures.. 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. 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 CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. California oil refinery blast sends flames shooting into sky However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. 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. "I just appreciate that I'm here. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. "It was like a loud sonic boom. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. 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. 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. Additional locations: Dallas, TX | Midland, TX | Odessa, TX | Louisiana, Plant Explosion Lawyer Refinery & Pipeline, Railroad Crossing Accidents and Train Accidents, Longshore & Harbor Workers Compensation Act. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. Still, the explosion led to further safety measures, some the refineries put in voluntarily and others they did so essentially at the behest of government agencies. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. 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.. Prior to joining the Press-Telegram, she served as the Daily Breeze's lead city hall reporter. 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 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. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Principal Office: Houston Texas. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. They heard a loud explosion, kind of like a sonic boom, said Jason Davis, who lives near the complex. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. 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. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. It was unclear what caused the fire. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. 4 Injured In Reported Explosion At Torrance Apartment Complex Four were taken to hospitals. Steve Deuel said. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. 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. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance Hire a Houston personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. 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. Feb . I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. Across California, CA | News | 15h. 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. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls. I cant believe they dont have the guts to stand up and say, This is wrong and MHF needs to be out of our community, she said. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. Both the PBF and Valero refineries are situated in densely populated areas of the South Bay: About 245,000 people live within three miles of the Torrance refinery and another 153,000 live within that same distance of Valeros refinery, AQMD said. Torrance News - ABC7 Los Angeles Three were treated and released. 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. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. 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 refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. 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 large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. 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. 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. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. The incident caused the refinery to be . Explosion Rips Through Torrance Refinery, Shakes South Bay There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. Redondo Beach Local News. All rights reserved. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu said in a statement Saturday that he plans to ask the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to include Saturdays incident as part of an ongoing investigation into the problems at the trouble-plagued refinery that began two years ago. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. Please enter valid email address to continue. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. 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. Its unacceptable we were put in harms way, said Daphne Wong, who added that she does not believe the official line that Torrance is a safe community. Another fire? Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. 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 four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. 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. More Stories Drone helps. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance TorranceCitiCABLE 4.15K subscribers 113 views 1 day ago #184 1. 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. For more than seven years, members of small, local activist groups have been irresponsibly making claims against the Refinerys use of MHF, without any basis in fact, Lafayette wrote recently. Those calls for a ban remain. The explosion, the report said, launched a 40-ton piece of debris that nearly struck tanks carrying tens of thousands of pounds of MHF. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. 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. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. 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. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. People, Donna Heise said, are becoming more aware if nothing else over the last seven years..