04 Feb Martinez Refinery Said Monday Fire Under Control

A fire broke out Saturday amid flaring at the Martinez Refining Company 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)

By Tony Hicks
Bay City News

Martinez Refining Company said on social media just after 5 p.m. Monday that the fire that prompted a shelter-in-place for surrounding communities on Saturday is now a “small residual fire under control.”

Refinery officials said there may be residual smoke until further notice.

The explosion and fire injured at least six people, with four taken to a hospital Saturday and three released by Sunday. Two others were treated at the scene, said Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Captain Ted Leach on Sunday.

A spokesperson for Contra Costa Health on Monday said no community members reported smoke-related injuries or illness.
MRC said Monday evening that flaring continues at the site, with the potential for intermittent flaring throughout the week.

Refinery operating units have been shut down except required utility systems.

MRC is owned by PBF Energy, which owns six refineries nationwide.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Saturday, two workers were opening equipment in preparation for planned maintenance on one of the refinery’s process units, which was shut down Jan. 30.

According to MRC, while opening the equipment, hydrocarbon material started to leak. The two workers immediately evacuated the area, and the material subsequently caught fire, which spread within the immediate vicinity.

Both workers were transported offsite for medical evaluation and released.

MRC’s fire crews called for mutual aid from industry partners at other area refineries and support from Con Fire as the fire spread. Roads around the refinery were shut down — including the Marina Vista off-ramp from Interstate Highway 680 — as thick black smoke poured from the site, causing visibility issues on I-680.

County officials issued a shelter-in-place alert at 4:49 p.m. for specific neighborhoods near the refinery, which was lifted about 9 p.m. Contra Costa’s Community Warning System issued a Level 3 alert, the most severe in its four-tier system, which begins at Level 0.

At 5:10 p.m., Sunday, MRC reported a Community Warning System Level 1 notification for firefighting water runoff containing hydrocarbons that overflowed one of the refinery’s wastewater containment ponds.

MRC said the runoff continues to be contained on the refinery’s property and the refinery has equipment removing the runoff and transporting it to the refinery’s water treatment system.

Contra Costa Health on Monday said residents of Martinez, parts of Pacheco and Clyde who have respiratory sensitivity should remain indoors with doors and windows shut while smoke continues to clear. A map of the affected area will be available at cwsalerts.com while the health advisory remains in effect.

MRC said on social media it has set up a claims line at (800) 542-7113, where people should leave their full name, address, telephone number, and email address, as well as describe their concerns, and a company representative will return the message.
MRC said further updates will be posted on MRC’s social media and website, at www.martinezrefiningcompany.com. Community inquiries can be made to (925) 313-3601.

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