LOS ANGELES –
A major fire erupted late Thursday night in a crucial jet fuel production unit at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery near Los Angeles, sending massive flames and thick plumes of smoke into the sky above one of the largest refineries on the US West Coast.
Chevron spokesperson Allison Cook confirmed in an emailed statement that no injuries were reported and that all refinery personnel and contractors were accounted for.
The cause of the blaze at the facility—located in the suburb of El Segundo and a vital supplier of jet fuel for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)—was not immediately clear. Local authorities confirmed the fire had been contained by early Friday.
Impact on Fuel Supply and Markets
Sources familiar with the incident identified the unit on fire as Isomax 7, which converts mid-distillate fuel oil into jet fuel. The unit works alongside the refinery’s two crude distillation units to supply LAX, which sits just north of the facility. The extent of the damage and its potential effect on the refinery’s jet fuel production capacity remain unknown.
Despite the refinery’s critical role, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated there was “no known impact to LAX at this time.”
The El Segundo refinery is Chevron’s second-largest in the US and is responsible for producing approximately 40 percent of Southern California’s jet fuel and 20 percent of its gasoline supply. While analysts suggest the fire is unlikely to significantly impact the broader global oil market, it could lead to an immediate rise in gasoline prices within California.
Trauma for Local Residents
The blaze continued to burn past midnight, as fire departments from Chevron, El Segundo, and Manhattan Beach actively worked to control the “isolated fire,” Cook stated.
The sheer force and visual spectacle of the incident were jarring for local residents. Videos posted online showed the fireball shortly after the eruption, turning the western Los Angeles sky a dramatic orange. The refinery’s safety flare, which emits a tall plume of flame as a necessary measure when refineries cannot process hydrocarbons normally, also contributed to the intense glow.
No evacuation orders were issued for nearby residents, many of whom live in apartment complexes directly across the street from the industrial site. However, residents in Manhattan Beach were instructed to shelter-in-place until 2 a.m.
State and federal safety agencies have announced that they will launch a full investigation into the cause of the fire once the blaze is fully extinguished.
