explosion in torrance today
explosion in torrance today
The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. 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. But the consequences, according to federal investigators, could have been far worse: The explosion, investigators wrote in a report two years later, nearly released tons of modified hydrofluoric acid, potentially putting thousands in the South Bay at risk. 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.. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. Overturned gas tanker explodes, killing 1 person, Texas mom in custody after 5 of her kids were stabbed, leaving 3 dead, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. Although there are alternative alkylation technologies under development, Lafayette said, they still need to be proven to be safe, mechanically reliable, and commercially viable at the scale of the Torrance Alkylation Unit.. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. / KCAL News. 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 SCAQMD didnt comment on Hahns request for the organization to reexamine the viability of alternative technologies to MHF, some of which may be more commercially available than they were at the time of the vote. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. 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. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Instead, if a leak occurred, a ground-hugging liquid cloud would form, according to a 2018 report from the Torrance refinery defending its use of the chemical. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. The cause of the fire, which Millea said burned an unspecified amount of crude oil, is under scrutiny by investigators from Cal-OSHA, the states worker safety agency, while a county hazardous materials team also was on the scene. The refinery relied on safeguards that could not be verified, and re-used a previous procedure deviation without a sufficient hazard analysis of the current process conditions. Prior to joining the Press-Telegram, she served as the Daily Breeze's lead city hall reporter. Edited by Rachel Barnes. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. This is a breaking news story. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plants crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. 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. 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. The AQMD scrapped the potential ban in 2019 instead accepting proffers from both refineries that promised to make safety enhancements to their existing MHF units. 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 explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. 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. The crowd gathered at 10 a.m. at Columbia Park on 190th Street, cheering the remarks of Lieu, Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi and other speakers, before marching the short distance to the refinery. 6 Min Read. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. All communications are private and confidential. 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. The latest fire in an ongoing series of mishaps including leaks, excessive flaring and power outages that have plagued the refinery in recent months added fuel to the arguments of opponents that the plant is a safety and environmental hazard. 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. In the past 5 years alone, our Plant Explosion Lawyers have Won over $1 Billion for workers who were seriously injured and burned in refinery and industrial accidents, represented workers in connection with every major plant and refinery explosion in recent history, and recovered record-setting verdicts and settlements against the largest oil and gas companies in the world, including ExxonMobil, Williams, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. More Stories Drone helps. Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. The CSBs report emphasizes that it is critical that hydrocarbons do not flow into the air side of the FCC unit, as this can create an explosive atmosphere. I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. PUBLISHED: February 18, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. | UPDATED: February 18, 2023 at 8:01 a.m. It's been eight years since a massive explosion at the Torrance Refinery shook the South Bay with the blast. 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. 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. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. After protests and intensified public pressure from such activists as the Heises mounted in 2017, the AQMDs Proposed Rule 1410 became a key focus of the agencys Governing Board. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. 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. 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. Its unacceptable we were put in harms way, said Daphne Wong, who added that she does not believe the official line that Torrance is a safe community. Let's get out of here. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. 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. All rights reserved, Los Angeles County Holds Stable COVID-19 Hospitalization Rate, Tax Deadlines Extended to October for Most Californians Due to Storms, Check Your Pockets: These Coins Can Be Worth Up To $24,000, Glendale Neighborhood Frustrated After an Illegal Hostel Moves In, Road Rage Incident Kicks Off Pursuit, Carjacking, and Weapon Fired Out Window in Wild Chase, NASA Images Show Southern California Mountains Before and After Winter Storm. 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. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. 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 filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. Lieu commended the AQMD for its proposal to phase out the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at the plant, one of only two refineries in California to rely on MHF. Chairperson Sutherland said, Adoption of and adherence to a robust safety management process would have prevented these other incidents. Refinery spokeswoman Betsy Brien said the fire was quickly extinguished and the Del Amo Boulevard barriers were activated to close the road under an abundance of caution.. If you or a loved one were injured or burned in a plant or refinery fire, contact ourplant and refinery accident attorneysfor a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. Weekend clouds make way for sunshine by midweek, CA awaits key decisions from reparations task force, LAPD looking for autistic man last seen in downtown, Ducks assistant coach diagnosed with melanoma, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, LAPD searching for driver in fatal San Pedro hit-and-run, 1 killed amid turbulence event on business jet, Grizzlies Morant to miss Clippers, Lakers games, Festival of Whales returns to Dana Point Harbor, AlienCon attracting space enthusiasts to Pasadena, Folks near Jack Daniels facility see whiskey fungus, Suspect arrested in overnight DTLA stabbing, Commission blasts former sheriff on alleged deputy, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead up for, 3 arrested for nearly $1 million in stolen student, Carjacking suspect shot in wild chase in L.A. 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. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. CSB Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said, This explosion and near miss should not have happened, and likely would not have happened, had a more robust process safety management system been in place. The refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. And the incident was avoidable, CSB said: Mismanagement and improper safety protocols put in place by then-owner ExxonMobil who sold the refinery to PBF Energy shortly after the incident made the explosion likely. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. All rights reserved. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. That update was completed last year as well. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. 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.. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. Tests have shown that MHF, which Torrance has used since 1997, rapidly expands upon release and can travel at lethal concentrations up to two miles, according to a presentation from AQMD staff. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. 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. Were also the only law firm in the country thats currently representing over 65 of the workers who were injured in the Williams Geismar explosion, as well as 3 of the 4 workers who were tragically killed in the October 2015 Williams explosion in Gibson, Louisiana. 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. People gathered in protest at the refinery later in the afternoon on the 2-year anniversary of an explosion at the plant that left two people injured. Two others sustained minor injuries. 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. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. The explosion sent ash raining down on. 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. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. 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. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) A New Jersey-based oil refining company announced Wednesday it is purchasing the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance that was badly damaged in a February explosion, with. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. 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.. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobil's refinery in Torrance, California.
Most Chicken Nuggets In One Sitting,
New Bungalows For Sale In Whitstable,
Hbscanning Ealing Gov Uk,
Herbert Spencer Philosophy Aims And Methods Of Education,
Articles E
Posted by on Thursday, July 22nd, 2021 @ 5:42AM
Categories: android auto_generated_rro_vendor