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. 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.
Fire, explosion reported at Torrance Refinery, police say In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. 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.. Posted Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 5:20 pm PT. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Feb . 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. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. Let's get out of here. 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 . All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. 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. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Those improvements were completed in 2021 and are now in service, Lafayette said. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California, Drivers of Critical Chemical Safety Change, Process Safety Management for the 21st Century, Emergency Planning and Response (Preparedness), Website design & development by Americaneagle.com. 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. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. The cause of the fire, which Millea said burned an unspecified amount of crude oil, is under scrutiny by investigators from Cal-OSHA, the states worker safety agency, while a county hazardous materials team also was on the scene. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. in communication and M.S. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating.
4 Injured In Reported Explosion At Torrance Apartment Complex Passing motorists supplied supportive honks.
Explosion Rips Through Torrance Refinery, Shakes South Bay 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.. 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. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. 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. 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. 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 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. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. But at the time, theyd never heard of MHF and didnt think much of it. "Emergency procedures have been activated to address the incident, and employees are working with the appropriate agencies," a statement by the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery said. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. 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. Steve Deuel said. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. 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. 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..
ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash 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. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. 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. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. The refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance.
Activists marking Torrance refinery explosion anniversary call for CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in That update was completed last year as well. 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. 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. Environmentalists and concerned residents say MHF could prove catastrophic if the chemical were to escape, pointing to its corrosivity and studies that show its ability to travel beyond a refinerys footprint. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. 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.. Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. Cuando utilizas nuestros sitios y aplicaciones, usamos. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. The issues to be discussed include A decision not to use the ExxonMobil emergency siren to alert the community to the explosion and subsequent ash and dust fallout.. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". Please enter valid email address to continue. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved.
Advocates renew call for MHF ban on 8th anniversary of Torrance 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. 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. Torrance fire Capt. Hutchings holds a B.A. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. It was unclear what caused the fire. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen, cell 202-446-8094 or email public@csb.gov. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years.
Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California - NBC News 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. Another fire? 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. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. Weve won over $1 Billion for our clients, recovered some of the largest verdicts and settlement in history, and obtained record-setting victories against the biggest trucking, oil and gas, maritime and petrochemical companies in the world.
The ExxonMobil near-disaster you probably haven't heard of Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times SUBSCRIBE Copyright 2022, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell My Personal. 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. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy.
Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery Rocked by Large Explosion - KTLA There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. 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. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. 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. Redondo Beach Local News. 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.
Electrostatic precipitators are large machines that stand12 stories high and weigh more than 1,000 tons. ET), but there was no . 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. Three were treated and released. Edited by Rachel Barnes. Flares from the stack, part of a safety relief valve system, are part of normal operations that occasionally produce a rumbling sound, like distant thunder, caused by turbulent mixing of vapors. 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.
California fire crews respond to ExxonMobil refinery explosion - CBS News Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. U.S. Chemical Safety Board. It provides 362 jobs around $30 million in wages in Torrance, according to its website. A powerful blast at an ExxonMobil oil refinery rocked Torrance, California, on Wednesday. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. 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.