explosion in torrance todayexplosion in torrance today
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. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. The remainder of the FCC unit is comprised of a portion of the reaction process and a series of pollution control equipment that uses air and is known as the air side of the unit. The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. 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. 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 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. 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 state could potentially lose thousands of jobs, and it could result in higher gasoline prices at the pump for California residents, businesses, and government, Californians for a Sustainable Economy an association representing hundreds of local businesses wrote in opposition to the ban. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance TorranceCitiCABLE 4.15K subscribers 113 views 1 day ago #184 1. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. 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 rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. 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. Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. 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 blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. The building has been undergoing renovations for some time, and the victims are believed to be remodelers working in one of the involved units, neighbors said. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. 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. The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance plans on Tuesday to deliver a letter from its science advisory panel to Newsoms office urging him to request that Atty. 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 couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. "I just appreciate that I'm here. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. A five-story processing unit had burst open, spewing industrial ash over a mile away that some mistook for snow and propelling a 40-ton hunk of equipment into the air. Activists carried signs reading Congratulations PBF, zero days explosion free and All lives matter while chanting Hey, hey, ho, ho, MHF has got to go. Some said the turnout demonstrates the series of refinery disruptions has reached a crisis point. 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. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobil's refinery in Torrance, California. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. 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.. 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. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. in communication and M.S. 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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. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. 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. 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. 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.. Homes shook in . The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. Numerous nearby residents complained about the air quality following the blast. All communications are private and confidential. Redondo Beach Local News. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. 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. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. 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. 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.. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. 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. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. 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. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. 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. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. God may not warn us again.. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. 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. 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, 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. Two others sustained minor injuries. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. Liz Odendahl, Hahns spokeswoman, said in an interview that the supervisor was furious at the AQMDs decision to accept the refineries proffers. 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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. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. 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. We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. 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. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL 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. 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. 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. There was no sign of an announced safety rally at the refinery PBF had planned to hold for workers as a counterpoint to the demonstration so they could reflect upon the (2015) incident.. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. 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. 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. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.