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TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. 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 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. 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. Principal Office: Houston Texas. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. This is a breaking news story. Four were taken to hospitals. Edited by Rachel Barnes. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plant's crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. The cause of the explosion was not known. The issues to be discussed include A decision not to use the ExxonMobil emergency siren to alert the community to the explosion and subsequent ash and dust fallout.. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. 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? If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. 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. All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. 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. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. 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. in journalism from the University of Southern California. Torrance fire Capt. Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. 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. 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. Flares from the stack, part of a safety relief valve system, are part of normal operations that occasionally produce a rumbling sound, like distant thunder, caused by turbulent mixing of vapors. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. 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. 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. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobil's refinery in Torrance, California. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. She currently lives in Inglewood. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. 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. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. 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. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. Across California, CA | News | 15h. 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. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bontas offices to take all possible actions to require refineries in California to convert from MHF to safer alternatives.. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. 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. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. mostrar anuncios y contenido personalizados basados en perfiles de inters; medir la efectividad de los anuncios y el contenido personalizados, y. desarrollar y mejorar nuestros productos y servicios. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. 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. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance TorranceCitiCABLE 4.15K subscribers 113 views 1 day ago #184 1. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobils refinery in Torrance, California. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. More than a day after the accident, no representative from ExxonMobil had directly contacted the Torrance fire chief and city officials still did not know what was in the substances that were released into the surrounding areas. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. 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. The explosion, which happened . TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. 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. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen, cell 202-446-8094 or email [email protected]. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. The refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. 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. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. ET), but there was no . If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. 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. TORRANCE An explosion and fire in a gasoline processing unit rocked the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance today, injuring three workers and sending flames and ash into the sky. Two others sustained minor injuries. 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. We are very proud of the many technical advances we have added to our Alkylation Unit over the years, the refinery says on its website, which is additional proof of our continuing commitment to safe, reliable operations.. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. When you think about it, she said, it makes you not want to sleep at night.. PBF also reached a separate agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade an additional water monitor in 2020, according to Lafayette. Torrance firefighters . 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. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. 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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. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. 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. The new campaign comes several months after air quality regulators killed a years-long push for stronger regulation of hydrofluoric acid at the two refineries. 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. 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 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. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. The CSB investigation also discovered that a large piece of debris from the explosion narrowly missed hitting a tank containing tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid, or MHF. 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.. 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. 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. Just before 9 that morning, pent-up gases at ExxonMobil's Torrance refinery south of Los Angeles had triggered an explosion so massive it registered as a magnitude-1.7 tremor. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police 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. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon Neighborhood - Redondo Beach, CA - The blast at the Torrance refinery could be seen for miles and caused 1.7 magnitude ground-shaking. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days.