Four workers exposed to leaking gases at the Marathon Los Angeles Refinery in Wilmington were taken to hospitals Thursday, including one in serious condition.
The leak was reported about 6:40 a.m. in the 2100 block of East Pacific Coast Highway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The gases were reported to be butane and hydrogen sulfide, according to Nicholas Prange of the LAFD. Crews shut down the leak, and there was no evacuation order involving the nearby community, Prange said.
“The hazardous materials risk has been mitigated,” Prange said Thursday morning.
Paramedics took four patients to hospitals: a 40-year-old man in serious condition; and three other men — ages 26, 35, and 43 — in “moderate” condition, Prange said.
The circumstances of the leak were under investigation.
Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson, D-Carson, released the following statement saying the leak was the result of a broken valve.
“I applaud the swift action of the local firefighters and paramedics for aiding the workers and transporting them to a nearby medical facility for evaluation,” Gipson said.
“The site’s fast action response team has reported that the broken valve has been fixed, and both I and my staff will continue to receive updates and look forward to complete reports by Marathon and South Coast AQMD to ensure there are no adverse effects on the surrounding community. I pray for a speedy recovery for the workers that were affected and will be closely monitoring their condition,” Gipson said.