MARTINEZ, Calif. (KRON) — Now to the East Bay for an replace on Saturday’s hearth on the Martinez Refining Firm. Contra Costa Well being has not but lifted the well being advisory for individuals who have respiratory points – saying these individuals ought to stay indoors and preserve their home windows closed.
ICE brokers perform operation in Harmony, police say
The hearth was attributable to a leak of hydrocarbon materials, in keeping with a social media submit from the Martinez Refinery Firm. Round 1:30 p.m. Saturday, two employees have been opening gear forward of upkeep on one of many refinery’s course of models.
They instantly evacuated the realm as the fabric caught hearth. The 2 employees have been unhurt, in keeping with the refinery.
For a lot of native residents, they are saying Saturday’s hearth was horrifying not solely due to the towering black smoke and flames it produced but additionally as a result of they really feel neither the town nor county did their job of notifying them when the fireplace began.
“I didn’t even get a notification from saying what happened and three hours later at 5 p.m. I’m getting a notification of shelter in place,” stated Vicki, a Martinez resident.
Brianne Zorn, the mayor of Martinez, acknowledges the big outcry from residents wanting extra transparency from the refinery.
“The mayor was silent,” Vicki stated. “There were no notifications, no alerts.”
In 2022, the Martinez Refining Firm had a serious chemical launch incident. Due to this, the Metropolis of Martinez created an data system referred to as “Martinez Alerts”.
Congressman John Grarmendi, who represents 5 oil refineries in his district, together with the Martinez Refining Firm – says the Martinez Refining Firm has an extended historical past of upkeep points, emission issues and fires — like Saturday.
“And the current situation follows along that same pattern, unfortunately, the refinery hasn’t been able to provide the necessary improvements to their infrastructure to have these problems disappear,” Garamendi stated
Garamendi says it’s been a “rocky path,” however his crew is working to make adjustments to grease refineries, just like the transition from crude oil to biofuels.
Contra Costa Well being, Contra Costa Hazmat, and the air district responded to Saturday’s hearth.
Zorn says the town is diligently working with the refinery to get solutions.
“I think at this time, I think it is important for our community to understand that the correct people have responded to the incident,” Zorn stated.
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Garamendi additionally desires the Martinez Refining Firm to elucidate what hazards Saturday’s hearth could have brought on to the general public’s well being.
“Definitely there will be a cleanup,” he stated. “There are hazardous materials that have undoubtedly resulted from this fire, and those will need to be dealt with.”
“It’s still a little premature to know exactly what violations may have occurred but from our perspective, it’s the city’s responsibility to communicate all the information that we have to our residents and will do that as soon as that information has been passed along to us,” Zorn stated.
For Vicky, she says she now not desires to be left at the hours of darkness.. She desires extra transparency from the town and the Martinez Refining Firm.
“It’s a great place to live,” Vicki stated. “But when you live next to the refinery you would want to know it’s dangerous if there’s a health advisory when it happens — not 2-3 hours later.”
