A massive explosion and fire have struck the Chevron oil refinery located in the city of El Segundo, California, near Los Angeles.
The blaze was reported around 9:30 PM local time on Thursday, October 2, according to a report by U.S. news outlet CNN.
The terrifying fire that spread rapidly after the explosion caused panic among residents in surrounding areas. Witnesses told CNN that immediately following the blast, a colossal column of flame shot into the sky, accompanied by a loud, sustained booming sound. The initial intensity of the fire was so great that it turned the night sky an orange color.
El Segundo Fire Department Division Chief Casey Snow informed CNN that firefighters arrived on the scene at 9:30 PM and were successful in bringing the main fire at the refinery under control. However, the fire continued to burn in at least one tank for several hours after the initial incident.
Chief Snow explained that instead of extinguishing the blaze in the tanks holding gasoline and diesel, fire crews began a cooling process to keep the fire contained until the fuel was completely consumed.
Authorities from the City of El Segundo and Chevron confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported in the explosion. All refinery personnel were accounted for and confirmed to be safe.
Despite the situation being contained, officials urged residents to remain indoors. A temporary shelter-in-place order was issued for parts of Manhattan Beach, approximately two miles southwest of El Segundo, but this was lifted shortly after 1:00 AM.
Authorities are currently monitoring local air quality and advising residents not to go outdoors unnecessarily.
The El Segundo refinery, built in 1911, is a critical U.S. facility that processes 276,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is considered the largest oil producer on the West Coast.
