Chevron El Segundo Refinery Fire Extinguished After Major Unit Shutdowns Impacting California Fuel Supplies

A massive fire broke out late Thursday at Chevron's El Segundo refinery in Southern California, ignited by an explosion in a jet fuel processing unit. The fire was fully extinguished by Monday, with no injuries reported, and refinery personnel continue to respond to the incident while making operational adjustments to maintain safe and reliable operations. The refinery, which processes up to 290,000 barrels per day and supplies about 20% of California's motor fuels and nearly 40% of Southern California's jet fuel, shut down several key units including catalytic reformer, hydrocracker, and fluid catalytic cracker, though crude distillation units remained online. The blaze prompted a shelter-in-place advisory for nearby Manhattan Beach residents and raised concerns about jet fuel supplies at Los Angeles International Airport and potential increases in gasoline prices across the state. Air quality was monitored closely by Chevron and regional agencies, with no elevated toxin readings reported during the incident. This disruption adds pressure on California's fuel supply amid other refinery closures planned in the region.