In the early hours of Thursday, alarms blared across the Los Angeles County coastline as a large fire broke out at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery, one of the biggest fuel processing plants on the U.S. west coast. Flames and thick, black smoke were visible for miles.
The incident was confirmed by California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office. While crews work to contain the blaze, the exact cause remains under investigation.
According to the Los Angeles Times, details about how the fire started are still unclear. Broadcaster CBS reported that officers and firefighters rushed to the refinery after eyewitnesses described a loud explosion.
Refineries like El Segundo are industrial hubs where crude oil is heated, separated, and treated to produce gasoline, diesel and other vital fuels for vehicles and planes. Interruptions at these plants can ripple through supply chains, affecting everything from local pumps to airline operations.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, with officials promising full transparency once more information becomes available.
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Live: Large fire breaks out at El Segundo refinery in Los Angeles
cgtn.com
