Published: August 7th, 2012 at 2:58 am ET
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Title: Big fire at Chevron refinery in Richmond
Source: SF Chronicle
Author: Justin Berton, Kevin Fagan and Vivian Ho
Date: August 7, 2012 at 2:00a ET
Thousands of East Bay residents were ordered to stay in their homes with the windows and doors closed Monday night after a series of explosions and fires tore through Chevron’s Richmond refinery.
The explosions started about 6:15 p.m. and at least two large fires spewed thick, black smoke into the darkening sky.
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Health officials’ main concern was fumes from crude oil and diesel fuel, but winds were carrying the smoke and pollutants skyward, said Maria Duazo, a hazardous materials specialist with the Contra Costa County Health Services Department.
A shelter-in-place warning was issued for Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo and remained in effect late Monday night. An advisory for those with lung conditions or a sesitivity to smoke to stay indoors was expanded to all of Contra Costa County. Residents as far away as the Oakland hills were being warned by police about smoke heading that way.
As the smoke stretched out over the El Cerrito hills, Contra Costa County hazardous materials units rolled through the neighborhoods, taking air samples.
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Julius Bailey, 21, who lives on Barrett Avenue in Richmond blocks, was at Kaiser wearing a face mask. He said his throat had started burning and his eyes itching. After seeing a doctor, he said, “They told me I’m not going to die, but it sure feels pretty serious.”
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It is the third-largest refinery in the state.
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UPDATE: “The shelter-in-place order for the communities of Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo was lifted around 11:15 p.m., according to Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Program Director Randy Sawyer. Sawyer said that small amounts of material were still burning on the site, but that smoke was not leaving the refinery property.”
Published: August 7th, 2012 at 2:58 am ET
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sending...
"Sawyer said that small amounts of material were still burning on the site, but that smoke was not leaving the refinery property.”
Yeah, because I'm pretty sure smoke doesn't spread when things are burning. I'm curious what technology they have to make sure the smoke doesn't leave the property. I think we might be able to apply technology like this to Fukushima…
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It's because they suck, sry couldn't resist
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Can you imagine what westbound I80 is like about now? Best wishes for the good folks out there.
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Yeah, close your windows and turn off AC. Hmm.. I think even with highs only 78 (it is 108 here) many folks who have cars will flee for a day or so. Must br hellavious traffic headed out of the twin cities.
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Last night I saw the big black plume of smoke in the sky about 20 miles north of me. It didn't stop me from doing my BBQ. No smoke, no smell here. It all went with wind along the I80 corridor towards Sacramento. If your super expensive California rice smells like a burning fire – then you can thank Chevron.
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…like a burning tire.
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(strums guitar)…HHhMmmmMmmm….
and it Tastes Tastes Tastes!
…like a Burning Tire!
(strums guitar)…like a burning tire…
…apologies to The Man in Black
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash#cite_note-Cash_black-10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Fire_(song)
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The sheeple will never know what that cajun flavor really is. It's an art to find the right spice that can mask the toxic waste they pump into our food. Calmex? Cool ranch? Sweet and Sour Chipotle? Shame on me. They would never do such a thing. Come to think of it, how many flavors of tuna are there?
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