2 Injured in Blast, Blaze at Refinery

An explosion and fire ripped through a section of a Santa Fe Springs oil refinery Sunday, sending flames hundreds of feet into the air and causing at least two minor injuries, authorities said.

The two injured were workers in the northeast section of the Powerine Oil Co. refinery at 12354 E. Lakeland Road, Fire Chief Bruce Robinson said.

The explosion occurred about 9 a.m. and was believed to be in a coke unit, which is used in the oil refining process.

Flames shot hundreds of feet into the air at the plant, and black smoke from the blaze was visible for several miles, Robinson said.

“It went to a four-alarm fire as soon as the first units pulled out of the station and was seen from several blocks away,” he said.

Several residents called the Fire Department and the local sheriff’s station to report the sound of an explosion and flames.

Firefighters from 10 engine companies had the blaze contained within 40 minutes, but the fire was still burning an hour after the explosion.

Robinson said there was concern that hazardous chemicals could cause a toxic cloud of gas.

He said the two injured employees were treated at the scene by paramedics. The workers suffered burns in a flash fire that followed the explosion.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation. It was not immediately known how much damage was done.

Heavy smoke from the blaze jammed traffic on the nearby Santa Ana Freeway.