Update: Shelter in Place Lifted After 6 Hurt in Martinez Refinery Fire, Health Advisory Still in Place

Sirens go off as smoke bellows from the Martinez Refining Company in Martinez, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. The fire broke out amid flaring at the oil refinery leading to a public health advisory from Contra Costa County Health for residents in the Martinez, Pacheco, and Clyde areas. (Tony Hicks/Bay City News)

Editor’s note: This article combines two separate posts originally produced by the Bay City News wire service.

By Bay City News

A shelter-in-place order for residents near the Martinez Refining Co. was lifted Saturday night after a fire that injured at least six people.

A public health advisory remained in effect for all people with respiratory sensitivity in Martinez, parts of Pacheco and Clyde due to smoke from the fire, Contra Costa County Health Services said.

Four people were taken to a hospital for treatment and three were released, said Ted Leach, a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District captain. Two others were treated at the scene and released, he said.

The health department’s Facebook page said the Martinez Refining Co., a subsidiary of PBF Energy Inc., which owns the facility, alerted the county to the fire that broke out during flaring at 1:47 p.m.

Flaring is the burning of excess gas that occurs during equipment shutdowns or malfunctions.

The shelter-in-place alert was declared at 4:49 p.m. for specific neighborhoods near the refinery and lifted about 9 p.m.

A unified command was set up between the company, the fire district and the city of Martinez to oversee the fire fight. Other fire departments were called to assist with the coordinated response and keep the fire contained to the 860-acre refinery, the company said.

Several roads were closed including Marina Vista Avenue, from Interstate Highway 680 to Court Street, and Shell Avenue from Marina Vista Avenue to Pacheco Boulevard, the company said.

At the height of the fire, Contra Costa’s Community Warning System issued a Level 3 alert, the most severe in its four-tier system, which begins at Level 0.

“Residents in portions of Martinez, north of the refinery should shelter in place due to impacts from smoke,” according to the notification system.

“Please go inside, close all windows and doors, turn off all heaters, air conditioners and fans,” the health service urged residents.

“If not using the fireplace, close fireplace dampers and vents, and cover cracks around doors and windows with tape or damp towels.”

While most people would not be affected, eye, skin, nose, or throat irritation may be possible for some people, according to the alert. Anyone experiencing irritation was advised to rinse the affected area with water.

To view county alerts see cwsalerts.com.

For information on county Hazmat responses see cchealth.org/hazmat.

Contra Costa Health on Sunday recommended that residents of Martinez, parts of Pacheco and Clyde who have respiratory sensitivity remain indoors with doors and windows closed while smoke continues to clear from Saturday’s fire at the Martinez Refining Company.

Contra Costa Health noted in a news release that as of 11 a.m. Sunday, the fire was mostly out, but the agency will keep its health advisory in place for people with respiratory sensitivity until the fire is completely extinguished.

A shelter-in-place alert was declared at 4:49 p.m. Saturday for specific neighborhoods near the refinery and lifted about 9 p.m.

Saturday’s fire injured at least six people. Four people were taken to a hospital for treatment Saturday and three were released, said Ted Leach, a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District captain. Two others were treated at the scene and released, he said.

Contra Costa Health said it was first notified of the event when the Martinez Refining Co., owned by PBF Energy, reported the fire through the county’s Community Warning System at 1:49 p.m. Saturday.

The Level 2 CWS alert warned that the incident could potentially affect surrounding neighborhoods, prompting Contra Costa Health to issue its health advisory.

Copyright © 2025 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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