Posts
Fire
at Chevron refinery in Richmond, California, no threat to locals
RT,
19
December, 2014
Large
flames and a cloud of smoke can be seen over the Chevron oil refinery
in Richmond, California. Company and fire officials say the flare is
no cause for alarm.
The
blaze, which is visible for miles, has caused uncertainty within the
local community. Many citizens took to social networks to try and
find out more information about whether the refinery was on fire.
The
flames were visible for miles in the night's sky, while local
residents said the smell coming from the refinery was not pleasent.
Contra
Costa County health officials said in a statement on Twitter that a
hazardous materials team is on scene monitoring but that residents
were not being advised to shelter in place.
Chevron,
which owns the refinery, says the flames were caused by flaring and
that the situation was under control. The oil company released a
statement saying:
“We
had a process unit that needed to be depressurized, creating a
visible flare. The flare is part of our safety system which enables
to safely shut down a unit,” CBS
reports.
The
refinery in the Bay Area has been the scene of multiple fires in the
past. In 2012, local residents were told to stay indoors after
hazardous material was released into the atmosphere following a blaze
at the oil facility.
One
local resident, Julius Bailey, said his throat had started burning
and his eyes began itching. After seeing a doctor, he said, "They
told me I'm not going to die, but it sure feels pretty
serious,” according
to CBS.
There
were no fatalities following that fire in 2012, though one worker did
need medical treatment for burns suffered to his wrist.
Firefighters douse a flame at the
Chevron oil refinery in in Richmond, California August 6,
2012.(Reuters / Josh Edelson)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.