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. A smoke advisory was issued for areas near the ExxonMobil refinery due to Wednesday morning's explosion and fire. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. 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. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. 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. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". 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. 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. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. We voluntarily enhanced the Alkylation Units robust, layered safety systems already considered by experts to be amongst the most advanced in the world, Lafayette wrote, by installing additional safety enhancements.. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. 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 morning. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. Edited by Rachel Barnes. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. 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. 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. 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. "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. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. The explosion, which happened . It was unclear what caused the fire. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. 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. The AQMD scrapped the potential ban in 2019 instead accepting proffers from both refineries that promised to make safety enhancements to their existing MHF units. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. Other groups including the refinerys unions and local businesses feared the potential economic fallout if the refineries were forced to transition to a safer alternative. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. 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. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. 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. Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. More Stories Drone helps. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. 2022 Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. 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 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. And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. 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.. 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. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. 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. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. 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. 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. 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. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. 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. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. 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. 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 agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. The crowd gathered at 10 a.m. at Columbia Park on 190th Street, cheering the remarks of Lieu, Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi and other speakers, before marching the short distance to the refinery. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. ET), but there was no . in communication and M.S. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. 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. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Feb . The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. 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. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. Liz Odendahl, Hahns spokeswoman, said in an interview that the supervisor was furious at the AQMDs decision to accept the refineries proffers. 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.. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. 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. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. A powerful blast at an ExxonMobil oil refinery rocked Torrance, California, on Wednesday. All rights reserved. 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. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. 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. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. 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. 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. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. The additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. It provides 362 jobs around $30 million in wages in Torrance, according to its website. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. 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. 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. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. Hire a Houston personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. Numerous nearby residents complained about the air quality following the blast. That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. Principal Office: Houston Texas. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. 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. The Heises, for their part, are still working to educate residents in Torrance and Wilmington about their MHF concerns and are grateful the issue is still being monitored. All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. 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. The latest fire in an ongoing series of mishaps including leaks, excessive flaring and power outages that have plagued the refinery in recent months added fuel to the arguments of opponents that the plant is a safety and environmental hazard. The incident caused the refinery to be run at limited capacity for over a year, raising gas prices in California and costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4 billion. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. 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. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. Two others sustained minor injuries. Authorities said the incident happened around 6 a.m. and 36 firefighters responded to the refinery. The explosion sent ash raining down on. 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. 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. Four were taken to hospitals. That update was completed last year as well. On a day when activists marked the two-year anniversary of an explosion that rocked the then-ExxonMobil refinery and showered neighborhoods with industrial debris, another fire erupted at the troubled Torrance plant early Saturday. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. 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. 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. 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. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. 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. 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. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". Homes shook in . Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. 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 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.

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