Fire Breaks Out at California Chevron Refinery—Largest in Region

Created: 2012-08-07 01:23 EST

Category: World > North America

Photo Courtesy Flip Cassidy, Photographer

Update: 1:40 AM

SF Weekly reports "flooding" with people who have breathing complaints.

BART officials say stations have been reopened, excepting Richmond.

Chevron officials held short presser: fire suspected to have started from a fuel leak in Unit 4.

Original

A fire broke out at a Chevron Oil refinery in Richmond, California on Tuesday evening at approximately 6:15 Pacific Daylight Time. The refinery is the California-founded corporation's oldest, as well as the largest in the region.

Plumes of smoke have been rising in the north-east San Francisco Bay, even blanketing the sky in some areas. There has been only one report of injury to a Chevron employee on site with no reported deaths.

The blaze has been ongoing for just under the last 4 hours, but was contained at 10:30 local time.

A Civil Emergency Warning was issued for residents of Contra Costa County (including Richmond, North Richmond, and San Pablo) earlier this evening. Residents were told to stay indoors, close windows, and shut off heaters, air conditioners, and fans.

Chevron Corp. has released a statement saying, “We have comprehensive plans and procedures in place to respond to situations like the one we are facing. We are working with all appropriate local authorities.”"We will take all measures necessary to provide for the safety and security of our facilities and the surrounding community.”

Locals report that the Richmond stop on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) has been effectively closed to the public soon after news of the fire broke.