EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters were fighting a massive flame at a Chevron refinery just outside Los Angeles on Thursday night.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed on social platform X that a major fire erupted at the company’s refinery in El Segundo.
The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. El Segundo police and the fire department declined to comment.
It was not immediately known what caused the fire or whether anyone was injured.
“Our office coordinates in real time with local and state agencies to protect the surrounding communities and ensure public safety,” says Newsom’s Office.
El Segundo, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Los Angeles, is a beachside town located about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) south of Los Angeles International Airport.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote in a post on X that the impact on the airport is unknown.
“LAFD is ready to support requests for mutual assistance,” she said.
According to the company’s website, the refinery covers approximately 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers) and exceeds 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers) of the pipeline. It can improve up to 290,000 barrels of crude oil per day, including gasoline, jet and diesel fuel. According to the company’s website, it has been operating since 1911.
