The quick take
Late Thursday night a loud explosion at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo kicked off a big, smoky scene. Witnesses said the blast felt like a tiny earthquake, and flames popped up in the southeast corner of the facility around 9:30 p.m.
Crews jumped into action
Chevron’s own refinery fire team was first on it, with El Segundo police and firefighters and the LA County Fire Department joining shortly after. Officials say the response was fast and focused — and, importantly, there were no reported injuries.
Contained, but stay cautious
Authorities say the blaze was kept to one part of the refinery and didn’t require neighborhood evacuations. Still, officials asked people to stay indoors and advised visitors to steer clear of El Segundo for now. Air quality may take a hit while smoke lingers, so closing windows and avoiding the area is the sensible play.
Air and water worries (yes, both)
Air regulators reported they weren’t seeing unusually high toxin levels right away, but cautioned conditions could change as the smoke drifts and settles. Local environmental groups pointed out that airborne soot doesn’t just disappear — it can settle on surfaces and later wash into storm drains and waterways, so there are legitimate downstream worries.
What was burning and what’s next
Fire officials said gasoline and diesel were involved and that the blaze would likely either burn itself out or be fully put out soon. The El Segundo refinery — built in 1911 — processes roughly 276,000 barrels of crude each day and is one of the largest refineries on the West Coast.
Nearby areas and travel
El Segundo sits a few miles south of LAX. The airport reported that its operations were not affected: no immediate flight cancellations, diversions, or delays were caused by the incident.
Byline
Matthew Rodriguez is a digital producer who covers breaking news and crime and has worked with local outlets including the Argonaut and Pasadena Weekly.
