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Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Prior to joining the Press-Telegram, she served as the Daily Breeze's lead city hall reporter. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plant's crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. / KCAL News. 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. 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. The explosion, the report said, launched a 40-ton piece of debris that nearly struck tanks carrying tens of thousands of pounds of MHF. I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. All rights reserved. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. 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 CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. 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. 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. 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. Those improvements were completed in 2021 and are now in service, Lafayette said. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. Feb . 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. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. 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. 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. 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. ET), but there was no . The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. 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. 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. 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. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. 2022 Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. 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. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Edited by Rachel Barnes. Chairperson Sutherland said, Adoption of and adherence to a robust safety management process would have prevented these other incidents. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The refinery has been under constant scrutiny since the explosion as small fires and flare ups have been reported since and raised concern among residents living nearby. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". in journalism from the University of Southern California. If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. 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. Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. 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. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. Two others sustained minor injuries. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. 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.. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. 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. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. That update was completed last year as well. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. in communication and M.S. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. 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. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. The modified HF catalyst reduces acid vapor pressure sufficiently to suppress the usual flash atomization process of hydrofluoric acid, that environmental impact report said, causing most of the acid to fall to the ground as an easily controlled liquid and reduces the potential for off-site consequences of an accidental HF release.. A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. 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. Minor injuries were reported after the explosion ripped apart structures at the oil refinery and shook homes for miles around the blast site in southern Los Angeles County. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. 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. 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.. 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. 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. Redondo Beach Local News. They heard a loud explosion, kind of like a sonic boom, said Jason Davis, who lives near the complex. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. 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. Three were treated and released. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. Please enter valid email address to continue. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. 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. 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. Instead, if a leak occurred, a ground-hugging liquid cloud would form, according to a 2018 report from the Torrance refinery defending its use of the chemical. I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. Unfortunately, ExxonMobil, the owner-operator of the refinery at the time of the accident, did not respond to the CSBs requests for information detailing safeguards to prevent or mitigate a release of MHF, and therefore the agency was unable to fully explore this topic in its final report. 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.. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. Homes shook in . 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 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.. Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. 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. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. 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County, Over $38M stolen from low-income SoCal families, Newport Beach home dangling after cliffside collapse, High-speed rail from L.A. to Vegas: What we know, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers.