14 Feb Refinery Blast in Martinez Raises Alarm Over Health and Safety Risk

The fire Feb. 1 at the Martinez refinery, which released heavy smoke containing hazardous chemicals, is still under investigation. (Tony Hicks / Bay City News)

By Joe Porrello

A powerful explosion and fire at the Martinez Refining Company on Feb. 1 left the air thick with smoke, six workers injured, and a community shaken. As emergency sirens echoed through the town and a four-hour shelter-in-place order kept residents on high alert, the incident ignited a fresh wave of fear and frustration.

The fire broke out after workers were operating equipment for planned maintenance when hydrocarbon leaked, then ignited. The Bay Area Air District began receiving complaints about an “oily refinery smell” three hours before the fire started.

It also resulted in a Level 3 alert, the highest in the Contra Costa County Community Warning System and a public health advisory that was not lifted until the fire was put out three days later. Additionally, the Bay Area Air District issued three notices of violation to MRC “for creating a public nuisance, for failing to operate equipment as permitted, and for excessive smoke and soot fallout,” according to a statement released Friday by the air district and district attorney’s office. The incident remains under investigation and could result in more notices if further infractions are discovered.

“I’m committed to ensuring both agencies get to the bottom of what happened so it doesn’t happen again,” John Gioia, a member of the air district’s board of directors who also chairs the county’s Industrial Safety Ordinance Committee, told the Pulse.

No injuries were reported from the surrounding community and the smoke — which contained hazardous chemicals that can cause cancer, heart and lung disease and other health problems — largely blew to uninhabited areas.

“We got lucky this time,” Dr. Ori Tzvieli, CCH’s public health director, said in a press release. “But our community shouldn’t have to rely on luck.”

Justin Gomez, a father of two and active member of the Healthy Martinez refinery accountability group, said the explosion raised new fears about the refinery’s safety.

“Could it blow up again and be even bigger?” he wondered, recalling the thick black smoke and loud noises he and his family saw and heard.

They quickly evacuated.

“There’s no way you can tell your kids not to be scared when they see something like that out the window,” he said. “My young daughter packed her own version of a go-bag with family pictures and was asking to leave the house.”

Following the fire, residents were advised to seal their homes with damp towels and shut all windows and doors. Gomez noted that many homes in Martinez are old and not airtight.

He also voiced frustration over the refinery’s repeated safety problems.

“When we chose to live here, we understood it was a refinery town,” said Gomez, who has lived in Martinez for 13 years. “But we didn’t understand we would be repeatedly harassed by the nuisance of the refinery impacting our health and, at this point, our mental health.”

Since 2022, the Martinez refinery has had three major incidents and several smaller spills.

“I think there’s just a baseline level of anxiety across many community members who just don’t feel safe because of this repeated pattern of incidents,” said Gomez. “How does a multibillion dollar company allow this type of thing to happen on their watch?”

Gioia, a county supervisor whose district includes the Chevron Richmond refinery, says he understands the anxieties of residents like Gomez.

“I live in Richmond near a refinery, so I can relate to the concern and fear that people have because I’ve been through it myself,” said Gioia. “The refinery has had an unacceptable record over the last few years, and I think there is reason for the community to be concerned and not trust the facility.”

Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, whose district includes the Martinez refinery, has called for a full audit of the facility. She has been meeting with residents, first responders and refinery officials to determine next steps and plans to hold a town hall to discuss the findings.

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier called for stronger action from regulatory agencies in a Feb. 5 joint statement with other local elected officials.

“Having had 30 years of dealing with the oil industry, it is past time for every federal, state, and local regulatory agency with jurisdiction over the Martinez Refining Company to act aggressively with all the statutory authority they have to hold the refinery accountable,” he said. “Without more aggressive oversight it is not a question of whether deaths will occur, but when given the company’s disregard for safety.”

A year ago, the Martinez and Richmond refineries settled lawsuits against the air district and agreed to “major emissions reductions.” In October, the district fined the Martinez refinery $5 million — the second-largest it has ever assessed — over 59 air quality violations from 2018 to 2022.

“(BAAD) said that was a historic fine, but for a company like PBF with a current market value around $3.4 billion, I think the malfeasance is built into their business model — they know they’re going to (mess) up,” said Gomez.

The air district and D.A.’s office said in their Friday statement that they are continuing “the joint civil enforcement action against MRC for previous violations at this refinery.”

MRC said in an update Feb. 7 that flaring may continue for a few weeks but only if necessary for safety. It also said it is working “to identify the root causes and take appropriate corrective action.”

Despite air-quality tests showing low levels of contaminants, CCH is monitoring the situation, with plans to assess any long-term health impacts and the effects on soil and water. Both the Bay Area Air District and CCH continue to have 24/7 access to the refinery for ongoing inspections.

MRC has set up a claims line at (800) 542-7113 for residents to report concerns. Updates can also be found at www.cwsalerts.com and www.cchealth.org. Real-time air monitoring is available at www.fenceline.org/martinez.

To receive hazmat alerts, residents can text CCHEALTH to 21423 or sign up for emergency messages through the Contra Costa County Community Warning System.