As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. 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. 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. 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. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. More Stories Drone helps. "I just appreciate that I'm here. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. The Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. That update was completed last year as well. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. People, Donna Heise said, are becoming more aware if nothing else over the last seven years.. They heard a loud explosion, kind of like a sonic boom, said Jason Davis, who lives near the complex. Hours after an explosion ripped through a Torrance refinery, residents for miles around continue to grapple with ash, a gas odor and concerns over poor air quality while inspectors confirmed that a filtration device was the source of the blast. Cuando utilizas nuestros sitios y aplicaciones, usamos. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. PUBLISHED: February 18, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. | UPDATED: February 18, 2023 at 8:01 a.m. It's been eight years since a massive explosion at the Torrance Refinery shook the South Bay with the blast. Chairperson Sutherland said, Adoption of and adherence to a robust safety management process would have prevented these other incidents. 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. First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. It was unclear what caused the fire. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. 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. Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. 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. 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. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. Homes shook in . April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Best coffee city in the world? TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance TorranceCitiCABLE 4.15K subscribers 113 views 1 day ago #184 1. Hire a Houston personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. in communication and M.S. 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. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. 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 fire Capt. The explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. All rights reserved. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. 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. 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. The incident caused the refinery to be . 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. She currently lives in Inglewood. Another fire? 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Steve Deuel said. 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.. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. 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. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. But we had no idea about the danger.. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. 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. 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. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen, cell 202-446-8094 or email [email protected]. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . A smoke advisory was issued for areas near the ExxonMobil refinery due to Wednesday morning's explosion and fire. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. 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. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. The decision by the board came one week after the two refineries sent letters offering to install improved safety systems in the coming years if regulators ended their pursuit of new rules for the chemical. 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. 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.. All communications are private and confidential. Cal/OSHA has shut down the fluid catalytic cracker and will only allow operations to resume once it can be exhibited that the unit can operate safely. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. 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 also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. Posted Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 5:20 pm PT. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. 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. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. "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. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. proporcionarte nuestros sitios y aplicaciones; autenticar usuarios, aplicar medidas de seguridad y evitar el spam y los abusos, y. medir el uso que haces de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobils refinery in Torrance, California. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. 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.. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. The cause of the explosion was not known. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. / KCAL News. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. Those calls for a ban remain. Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. 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. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. 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. 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. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. Hutchings holds a B.A. Since then, at least one leak of hydrofluoric acid and several fires have prompted the South Coast Air Quality Management District to propose a ban on hydrofluoric acid. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. Had the tanks ruptured, the report said, it would have caused a massive release of MHF, which can be deadly to anyone who comes in contact with it. PBF also reached a separate agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade an additional water monitor in 2020, according to Lafayette. Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California - CBS News State of the Union CBS News App Ukraine Crisis COVID Pandemic CBS News Live Managing Your Money Essentials Shopping. 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. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. 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. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. 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. 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. The information you review on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.The verdicts and settlements that we have listed are simply intended to be representative of the cases that Zehl & Associates has handled for past clients; they are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome in your or any other lawsuit. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. "I kind of figured we had an earthquake, then I realized, living by the factory for all those years, they had a problem with the factory.". 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. All communications are private and confidential. 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 . 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. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. 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. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. It provides 362 jobs around $30 million in wages in Torrance, according to its website. 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. TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. 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, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. 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. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. When you think about it, she said, it makes you not want to sleep at night.. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures., MHF was the subject of a thorough technology review by a court-appointed Safety Advisor with input from the City of Torrance, Gesuina Lafayette, PBFs community relations advisor said in a recent email. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. Let's get out of here. Three were treated and released. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. 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). 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 proposal had plenty of support: Reps. Nanette Barragan, Ted Lieu and Maxine Waters wrote letters urging the AQMD to pass the rule and phase MHF out of Southern California. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. 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. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. 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. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. 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. Edited by Rachel Barnes. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. 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 explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. The explosion sent ash raining down on. 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. Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. 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. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. By Nichola Groom 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 injuring four workers and shattering windows of surrounding buildings, authorities said. Redondo Beach Local News. 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. 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. 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. Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. Two others sustained minor injuries. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. 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