Gasoline Blaze Erupts at Refinery

Gasoline leaking from a connector between two pipes caught fire and sent flames shooting into the air for a short time at the Unocal refinery in Wilmington but caused little damage, fire officials reported. Refinery workers spent several hours shutting off the leak responsible for the blaze that erupted at 5:15 p.m. Monday.

The leak spewed out 25 gallons of gasoline a minute until it was halted, Fire Department spokesman Jim Williamson said. A spark from a nearby electrical motor apparentlyignited the fuel, he said.

There were no injuries.