24 Feb Healthy Martinez, 350 Bay Area Provide Air Purifiers to Fight Refinery Pollution

Volunteers helped distribute free air purifiers to help residents after a fire Feb. 1 at the Martinez refinery produced hazardous smoke.

Story and photos by Malcolm Marshall

Healthy Martinez and 350 Bay Area distributed free air purifiers to Martinez residents Feb. 22, following the Feb. 1 fire at the Martinez Refining Company. The fire forced nearby residents to shelter in place for seven hours as hazardous smoke worsened air quality in the area.

The two groups have been pushing for stronger protections and greater accountability from the refinery, owned by PBF Energy, since a November 2022 incident when the refinery released 24 tons of toxic spent catalyst dust across the area.

This marks the second air purifier distribution organized by the groups. In May 2024, they handed out 300 air purifiers door-to-door in Mountain View and Vine Hill, neighborhoods disproportionately affected by refinery pollution.

“This event is directly linked to the fire on Feb. 1,” said Zoe Jonick, lead organizer with 350 Bay Area. “Last year, we got a donation of air purifiers and went door to door in the community to pass them out to people that are impacted by the poor air quality.

“We have 1,000 air purifiers that we’re handing out today because although [the] refinery should really should be the ones making sure that everyone has clean indoor air as a result of their pollution, they have not been doing that,” she said. “So we are taking it into our own hands to make sure that people are protected with the air that they breathe in their homes.”

A diverse group of Martinez residents waited in a long line to receive the free air purifiers, expressing their gratitude.

Ayo Wachuku, a mother of two, was among those receiving a purifier.

“Martinez is a small town but close to big cities,” Wachuku said. “My kids are involved in local activities, and we love the sense of community here.”

Her daughters are sensitive to dust and smoke. After seeing a flyer for the air purifiers, she decided to get one.

The fire occurred on one daughter’s 10th birthday, and Wachuku recalled seeing black smoke while driving home from Concord.

“I just packed my things as soon as possible and just took my kids away from the house so they felt safe,” she said.

Wachuku hopes the refinery will take more responsibility.

“Just be more responsible,” she said. “Some of my neighbors work there. I just want [the refinery] to be accountable.”

Through actions like the air purifiers giveaway, organizers aim to address the immediate impact of hazardous air quality on residents dealing with frequent incidents.

“Our community doesn’t trust PBF Energy and the Martinez Refining Company,” said Justin Gomez, a member of Healthy Martinez, in a statement. “Until we can see policy shifts that disincentivize operational cultures that allow repeated large scale incidents that harm workers and Martinez residents, we have to make sure we are doing what we can to prepare for the next one — it feels inevitable.”