EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Emergency responders were locked in a fierce struggle against towering flames engulfing a Chevron refinery on the fringes of Los Angeles late Thursday evening.
Officials from California Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration verified the outbreak of the intense blaze at the facility in El Segundo through a statement on the social media site X.
Chevron has yet to issue a response to inquiries from reporters. Authorities with the El Segundo Police and Fire departments also withheld immediate statements on the incident.
Details surrounding the fire’s origin remain elusive at this stage, as do reports of any casualties among workers or nearby residents.
Newsom’s team emphasized their active collaboration with regional and statewide entities to safeguard the local population and maintain order. “Our office is coordinating in real time with local and state agencies to protect the surrounding community and ensure public safety,” the governor’s office declared in their X post.
Nestled in El Segundo—a coastal enclave roughly 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles—the refinery sits approximately one mile (1.6 kilometers) from the bustling Los Angeles International Airport.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass addressed concerns via X, assuring the public of no disruptions to airport operations stemming from the fire. “LAFD stands at the ready to assist with any mutual aid request,” she added, signaling the Los Angeles Fire Department’s preparedness to lend support.
Spanning about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers), the refinery boasts an extensive network exceeding 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers) of pipelines, as outlined on Chevron’s official site. The plant processes a maximum of 290,000 barrels of crude oil daily, yielding essential products like gasoline, aviation fuel, and diesel. Dating back to 1911, it has long anchored the area’s industrial landscape, per company records.
As crews poured resources into containing the conflagration under the night sky, the focus sharpened on preventing any escalation that could ripple through the densely populated South Bay region. Air quality monitors and evacuation protocols stood poised, though no widespread alerts had been triggered by press time. The event underscores the inherent vulnerabilities of such large-scale energy operations in proximity to urban centers, though investigations into the spark await further developments.
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