Firefighters Saturday put out a fire at the Torrance Refining Company.
Firefighters dispatched at 6 a.m. to 3700 W. 190th St. had the fire out in approximately 30 minutes, according to Torrance fire Capt. Robert Millea.
Del Amo Boulevard was shut down for a brief time, Millea said. No injuries were reported.
The Torrance Police Department said the cause of the explosion and fire was being investigated, and other than the affected unit, the refinery was continuing to operate.
The department also said the incident was reported to appropriate agencies including the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Residents and elected officials pointed out that the fire came on the two-year anniversary of an explosion and fire at the same refinery
The Feb. 18, 2015 blast injured four people and occurred when the refinery was still owned by ExxonMobil. It was sold in September 2015 to PBF Energy.
“It is bizarre that this is happening in the 2-year anniversary of the last explosion and in the same day that a `no HF’ protest march was planned. I can’t believe this is happening,” John Bailey, president of the Southeast Torrance Homeowners Association, told City News Service.
“Exactly two years ago, an explosion at the Torrance Refinery nearly resulted in a catastrophic disaster that would have released deadly modified hydroflouric acid (MHF) into the surrounding South Bay communities,” Congressman Ted Lieu, D-Los Angeles, said Saturday. “…On the anniversary of that explosion, we get another explosion and a fire. It is completely unacceptable to have deadly MHF at failing refineries.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago. They have not yet completed their final investigation and I will be asking (them) to include today’s fire and explosion as part of their investigation.”
About 300 people gathered at around 11 a.m. Saturday at Columbia Park at Prairie and 190th Street for a march to the refinery entrance. The group was organized by the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance, which is calling for a ban of MHF at the Torrance refinery and at a Valero refinery in Wilmington.
Attempts to reach refinery officials for comment were not immediately successful.
—City News Service