Chevron El Segundo Refinery Fire Contained After Major Blaze

A large fire broke out late Thursday night at Chevron's El Segundo refinery near Los Angeles, which processes around 290,000 barrels of crude oil per day and supplies about 20% of Southern California's motor vehicle fuels and 40% of its jet fuel. The blaze, originating at the refinery's hydrocracking or Isomax unit that produces jet fuel, was swiftly contained by Chevron's on-site fire department, the El Segundo Fire Department, and mutual aid partners, with no injuries reported and all personnel accounted for. No evacuation orders were issued, though nearby Manhattan Beach officials advised residents to shelter indoors as a precaution, and air quality monitoring detected no harmful exceedances. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have been briefed and are coordinating with various agencies to ensure public safety, with no impact reported on the nearby Los Angeles International Airport. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and while early analysis suggests limited impact on the broader oil market, jet fuel prices could rise. The refinery's critical role in the region's fuel supply underscores the importance of monitoring potential disruptions as the situation develops.