MARTINEZ — Fire crews rushed to a refinery in Martinez on Saturday to fight a massive fire that may have been accompanied by an explosion, officials said.
Crews from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District rushed to the Martinez Refining Company about 1:40 p.m., spokesperson Fire Prevention Capt. Ted Leach said. He added that it was unclear what they were facing, because crews initially struggled to make entry to the refinery.
Firefighters were staging in the area of Shell Avenue and Marina Vista Avenue, Leach said. A county hazardous materials team also was on the scene.
Witnesses to the scene said flames were shooting at least 200 feet into the air and that giant black clouds were moving east with the wind. Employees from the refinery were evacuated and could be seen on Pacheco Boulevard, also near the refinery.
The refining company in a statement confirmed the evacuations and said they had accounted for all of their employees. The company said it reported the incident as a Level 2 notification — which include a hazardous materials release or potential release that is expected to have off-site consequences and possibly adverse health consequences. Children and elderly individuals were advised to go inside.
Leach said crews also heard reports of at least one explosion reported by witnesses but that fire officials were not immediately able to confirm that a blast had taken place.
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Public health officials issued an advisory for residents in Martinez, Pacheco and Clyde on the county’s health services web site that an “incident” Saturday at the Martinez Refining Company could affect individuals with respiratory issues.
“Most people will not be affected,” the advisory read. “Eye, skin, nose or throat irritation may be possible for some people in the affected area. If people experience any irritation, advise them to go inside and rinse any irritated area of their body with water.”
The MRC facility has faced a number of issues in the last year, including several incidents of unplanned flaring, an accidental release of coke dust, and an agreement to settle a legal dispute with county officials by using a continuous monitoring system to ensure their compliance with air-quality standards.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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