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. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. The additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. Refinery officials, though, say MHF was specifically designed to be safer than its non-modified original hydrofluoric acid and has been reviewed by experts and deemed the best catalyst for the refining process. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. Electrostatic precipitators are large machines that stand12 stories high and weigh more than 1,000 tons. All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. "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. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. 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. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. 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? The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. 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. 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.. Prior to joining the Press-Telegram, she served as the Daily Breeze's lead city hall reporter. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. The cause of the explosion was not known. 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. Redondo Beach Local News. The explosion, which happened . Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. 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If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. All communications are private and confidential. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. Edited by Rachel Barnes. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. But we had no idea about the danger.. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. Residents touted the move, introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn and timed to the anniversary, while PBF, in a statement, criticized the county boards vote. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. 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. More Stories Drone helps. 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. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. 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. I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. 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. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. When you think about it, she said, it makes you not want to sleep at night.. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. 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. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. Fortunately, the explosion did not release asbestos, but the material released contained fiberglass and glass wool which can cause respiratory issues. TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA Just before 9 a.m. on February 18, the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California exploded, shaking the surrounding community with the force of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake, and sending a quarter ton of sulfur oxide gas into the atmosphere. 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.. All rights reserved. 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..

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