Massive fire erupts at Chevron refinery in Los Angeles after explosion
Fire breaks out at Los Angeles refinery (photo: x.com/abc7chriscristi)
A fire broke out at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo. The blaze has been contained, and there are no reports of casualties, according to CBS News and the Los Angeles Times.
On Thursday evening, an explosion and fire occurred at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo, igniting flames visible from many kilometers away.
According to local authorities, there was no threat to the public, and no evacuation orders were issued. Temporary movement restrictions were in place in parts of North Manhattan Beach until 2:00 a.m.
- Major Explosion and Fire at Chevron Refinery in El Segundo, CA
— The Informant (@theinformant_x) October 3, 2025
A massive explosion has just rocked the Chevron oil refinery in El Segundo, California—just south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)—triggering a large-scale fire that's visible for miles.
Emergency… pic.twitter.com/jEt1OM9WIQ
Videos taken during the explosion around 9:30 p.m. show a burst of a fireball amid prolonged roaring. Over the next hour, the flames subsided significantly, although a fire near the southern part of the refinery continued to burn.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell told KCAL-TV that the fire was largely contained.
She noted that there were no reports of injuries and "no cause for alarm for the surrounding area." Officials continue to monitor air quality and advise residents of nearby areas to remain indoors if possible.
El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel added that the fire did not extend beyond the refinery's grounds, all personnel were accounted for, and the cause of the fire remains unknown. Plumes of smoke were visible in the El Segundo and South Bay areas, while firefighters doused the flames with streams of water. The refinery has its own fire department, and regional agencies assisted in the response.
What residents saw
Residents of nearby areas reported a powerful explosion and smoke rising above the city. In Redondo Beach, smoke billowed across the orange-lit sky, and traffic was rerouted with road closures along Rosecrans Avenue and the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Chevron plant is on fire in El Segundo, just outside LA - I was walking my dog and the entire sky lit up like it was daytime.
— Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) October 3, 2025
People are crowding the streets watching the blaze pic.twitter.com/gejPRZTDgL
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom were briefed on the incident.
Bass stated that there were no known impacts on the Los Angeles International Airport. The governor's office is coordinating efforts with local and state agencies to ensure public safety.
Refinery fires are a common occurrence in the South Bay area, which is home to several major oil production facilities.
In 2022, firefighters needed two hours to extinguish a blaze at the El Segundo refinery. In 2020, a fire at the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Carson sent flames soaring at least 30 meters high but was brought under control and caused only minor disruption to the plant's operations.
Earlier this summer, a powerful explosion occurred at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training center, killing at least three people. One of the possible causes being investigated is an incident during the transportation of explosives.
