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Martinez Refining Company Investigating If Leak During Maintenance Contributed to Fire

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Contra Costa County Fire Department firefighters outside the Martinez Refining Company as smoke billows from the refinery on Saturday in Martinez. (Courtesy of the city of Martinez)

Update, 3:00 p.m. Sunday: Officials with the Martinez Refining Co. say they’re investigating whether a leak that occurred during maintenance at the refinery may have contributed to the huge fire that ignited on Saturday.

As of 11:00 a.m. Sunday, Contra Costa County officials said the fire was almost entirely extinguished. The fire burned for hours, sending plumes of black smoke into the air and leading to a shelter-in-place alert for residents nearby.

That alert was lifted Saturday night. An advisory remains in effect recommending people with respiratory sensitivities continue to stay inside.

Regional and county regulators are also investigating the fire.

Update, 10 a.m. Sunday: Bay Area air regulators are investigating a fire at the Martinez Refinery that ignited Saturday, causing public health officials to issue a shelter-in-place alert for nearby residents.

The alert was lifted Saturday night, but a health advisory remains in effect. Public health officials advise people with respiratory sensitivities to consider remaining indoors until that is lifted.

The Bay Area Air District began receiving complaints of odors around 10:45 a.m. Saturday, according to an incident report. The Contra Costa County health department issued a shelter-in-place alert hours later.

“The concerns we are most worried about would be severe exposures that cause respiratory distress, lung distress, shortness of breath, or cardiac distress,” said Contra Costa County deputy health officer Sara Levin. “Should you experience any chest pain, shortness of breath, please do not hesitate to dial 911 and get emergency care.”

The fire is still burning, but in a statement, company officials said it is “under their control,” adding that flaring could continue as a safety measure and residual smoke may continue to be visible.

Update, 10 p.m. Saturday: A shelter-in-place alert has been lifted for parts of Martinez north of the Martinez Refining Company’s refinery, as well as parts of the nearby communities of Pacheco and Clyde, according to Contra Costa County public health officials.

The company reported the fire around 1:45 p.m. Saturday, sending thick black plumes of smoke into the air for hours.

In a Saturday night post on the company’s Facebook page, officials said firefighters had made “significant progress on the fire at the refinery.”

Public health officials said a lesser advisory for the same areas remains in effect, warning that individuals with respiratory sensitivities may experience irritation from smoke in the air.

Update, 9 p.m. Saturday: Contra Costa County officials said Saturday evening that the fire at the Martinez Refining Company’s facility continues to burn despite efforts to extinguish it that have gone on for hours.

In a press conference around 7 p.m. Saturday, officials said, so far, they have been unable to shut off the pipes or “lines” carrying chemicals as part of the refining process that are feeding the fire.

Officials said there had been a total of six people treated as a result of the fire. Three were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and three were released at the scene.

A shelter-in-place warning remains in effect for parts of Martinez north of the refinery due to impacts from smoke. Sirens will continue to go off in the area every half hour until the incident has ended.

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Original story, 6 p.m. Saturday: Contra Costa officials have issued a shelter-in-place warning in response to a fire at the Martinez Refinery Company that has led to at least one injury and sent thick plumes of smoke into the air.

Officials are asking residents in parts of Martinez — in particular to the north of the refinery — to stay inside, close all windows, and turn off air conditioners or heaters to avoid smoke impacts.

The fire is now classified as a Level 3 Alert.

“It is a petroleum-based fire, so we are monitoring for aspects of that, and we also are working with the air district,” said Adam Springer, an assistant director with Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Programs.

Public health officials say anyone experiencing irritation should go inside and rinse any affected area of their body with water.

Updates can be found at CWSAlerts.com.

In a statement shared on social media at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, company officials said the fire is “contained to the refinery.”

The company said three people have been transported off-site, and one person has been treated and released, but no other information about injuries was provided.

Earlier Saturday afternoon, Brian Gonzalez said he was closing his restaurant, located just blocks away from the facility in Martinez, because he could see the flames.

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“Seems like it could be a tower or building, but for sure, inside the refinery, the flames are getting bigger and bigger.”

Contra Costa County firefighters are also responding to the scene. It’s unclear what started the fire.

Meanwhile, community members are expressing fear as large amounts of black smoke was released into the air.

Heidi Taylor, founding member of Healthy Martinez: Refinery Accountability Group, defined the fire as “terrifying” despite what she called assurances from health officials.

“I would challenge anybody to look at that plume of smoke and think, ‘Oh, it’s no big deal, I’ll just stay inside and watch a movie.’ That’s not how this works, this is scary as hell, get out!”

Health Martinez began advocating for more accountability and transparency from the refinery after the company released nearly 50,000 pounds of powdered industrial chemicals into the air in 2022.

KQED’s Juan Carlos Lara, Rachael Vasquez, and Dana Cronin contributed to this story.

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