Chevron El Segundo refinery fire causes massive explosion in California; no injuries reported as officials confirm blaze is contained
Chevron El Segundo refinery fire lit up the skies over southern California late Thursday after a massive explosion rocked the oil facility, prompting emergency response and widespread concern across the South Bay area.
Also read: Nigeria supplies crude to Dakar Refinery in Senegal
Footage shared by residents on social media showed a towering fireball and thick black smoke erupting from the Chevron-owned refinery in El Segundo, just miles from Los Angeles International Airport.
A loud, sustained rumble accompanied the fireball, captured from multiple angles as flames shot skyward.
Mayor Chris Pimentel confirmed there were no reports of injuries as of 11 pm local time, although the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown.
Holly Mitchell, LA County Supervisor, stated that firefighters had successfully contained the fire to a single section of the facility, and reassured the public that there was no need for evacuations.
“It has been contained and there is no cause for alarm for El Segundo or the surrounding areas,” Mitchell told local news outlet K-CAL.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office posted on social media platform X that he had been briefed on the incident and that state and local agencies were “coordinating in real time” to monitor the situation and ensure public safety.
Though the blaze diminished significantly within an hour of the first explosion, plumes of smoke remained visible for miles, according to The Los Angeles Times.
The Chevron El Segundo facility, which processes over 276,000 barrels of crude oil daily, is the largest oil refinery on the US West Coast.
Its scale and proximity to urban centres sparked immediate concern after the explosion.
Also read: ‘N1mln monthly for upkeep’ Chevron CMD’s estranged wife seeks marriage dissolution
Officials and emergency services are continuing to monitor the aftermath, and Chevron has yet to issue a detailed public statement regarding the cause or impact on operations.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
