A dramatic blaze engulfed Chevron’s El Segundo refinery late Thursday, sending towering flames and thick smoke lighting up the Southern California skies. The explosion reportedly originated in a jet-fuel production unit shortly after 9:30 p.m., triggering local alarms across the Los Angeles area.
All refinery workers and contractors were safely accounted for; no injuries have been reported, and no evacuations were ordered. The fire was contained to the facility—and officials say there is currently no public health threat.
The refinery, a major supplier of gasoline and jet fuel to the region, briefly shut off several processing units as crews worked to isolate and depressurize affected systems. Local fire and Chevron’s internal response teams led efforts to prevent the blaze from spreading.
While operations at nearby Los Angeles International Airport were not disrupted, market watchers warn the incident could put upward pressure on jet-fuel prices and spur tighter regional fuel supplies if repairs delay full recovery.
Investigations are now underway to determine the cause of the fire, with state and federal safety agencies expected to assist in assessing how the explosion began and whether structural or procedural failures played a role.