Compiled from news releases
An explosion and fire sent smoke and flames towering above the Chevron El Segundo Refinery on Thursday night, but the fire was quickly contained and was out by the following morning with no injuries reported.
“All refinery personnel and contractors have been accounted for and there are no injuries,” said a statement from Chevron.
“On Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at 9:32 p.m. the El Segundo Fire Department responded to a fire at the Chevron refinery. Suppression activities were directed under unified command with El Segundo and Chevron Fire Departments. In addition, mutual aid was provided by L.A. County, Redondo Beach, and Manhattan Beach Fire Departments,” said a news release from the El Segundo Fire Department. “At 11 a.m. Oct. 3, the fire at the Chevron refinery was out.”
By then, roads that had been closed after the initial blast were reopened.
The fire originated at a process unit at the southeast corner of the refinery, the El Segundo Fire Department release said, adding that Chevron will launch an investigation to determine the cause.
“The fire at the Chevron refinery has been contained thanks to the swift and coordinated response from ESFD, Chevron’s on-site fire department, and our mutual aid partners” El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel said in a prepared statement. “We conduct joint training and safety drills with Chevron and with that preparation and collaboration we are ready for incidents like this. We’re grateful that this situation was managed quickly, and the safety of the community is our highest priority.”
Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Air Quality Management District personnel have responded, and Chevron is cooperating with both agencies, the El Segundo release said.
The refinery produces 20% of California’s gasoline and 40% of its jet fuel, according to ABC7.
Matt McClain, from GasBuddy.com, told ABC7 that the fire could have had a major impact on gas prices — but the impact is expected to be minimized because the fire was contained quickly.
“This particular refinery, anytime it shuts down, it impacts prices all along the western coast of the United States, and even into places like Vancouver, British Columbia, other aspects in Canada,” McClain told ABC7, but added that, if the initial damage estimates hold, the impact should not be severe because the scope of the fire was limited.
