The fire that broke out at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo has finally been put out.
Firefighters from multiple departments, including El Segundo, Los Angeles County, and Redondo Beach, responded to the refinery located at West El Segundo Blvd. after 9:30 p.m. Thursday, according to city officials in El Segundo.
KNX News’ Pete Demetirou reported that the fire broke out in the refinery’s 7 unit, which converts mid-distillate fuel oil into jet fuel.
No evacuation orders were issued in the area. Allison Cook, a spokesperson for Chevorn, said in a statement to ABC7 that there were no injuries and “all refinery personnel and contractors have been accounted for.”
In a statement on X, Mayor Karen Bass wrote that LAFD was ready to help with any mutual aid request and that there was no threat to LAX.
KNX News’ Alex Silverman spoke with witnesses in the area. Keith Mohr, who lives near the refinery, said he heard “what sounded like airplane engines getting louder and louder.”
“All of a sudden there was a giant whoosh and the curtains flew up because the windows were slightly open and the house shook,” he said. “The dogs were barking.I knew something was wrong. It felt like an earthquake, so we didn't know if it was what was going on. We stepped outside just like all our other neighbors saw 300-foot flames right outside our house and got really scared.”
Oliver, another witness, was driving when he saw the orange sky.
“I was like, ‘Are we getting attacked?’” he said.
Mike Lamb was working at a hotel nearby when he saw the explosion.
“Then I felt the earthquake and I jumped out of the car,” he said. “I'm thinking the airplane was headed toward the hotel. But then I noticed that the light was behind the buildings across from the hotel.”
Firefighters continued battling the blaze until it was contained around 7:30 a.m. Friday.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District released a statement saying that overnight, officials saw “some elevated levels of VOCs at both refinery fenceline and community monitors.”
Nahal Mogharabi, assistant deputy of communications for AQMD, told L.A.’s Morning News Vicky Moore that at 9:30 a.m., those levels were at typical levels. She said weather conditions could impact air quality in the area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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