Mobil Refinery Fire Injures 2, Closes Street and Freeway Onramps

A fire at the Mobil Oil Refinery in Torrance on Thursday caused two minor injuries and led to the temporary closure of Crenshaw Boulevard and the onramps to the San Diego Freeway in both directions, officials said.

The blaze at Crenshaw Boulevard and 190th Street broke out in the coker unit, a tank filled with a tar-like substance used in the refining process, at 2:45 p.m. and was put out by the Mobil fire brigade and 64 Torrance firefighters less than an hour later, said Mobil spokeswoman Valeri Matthews. Firefighters from a number of other South Bay fire departments were called to the scene.

No harmful emissions were released and none of the surrounding neighborhoods were evacuated, but students at four schools were detained until it was determined that it was safe to leave, said Barry Gross, an administrator of special services for the school district. Matthews said the fire let off an ultra-thick cloud of smoke because coker does not burn.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause and extent of the fire. Matthews said the unit is monitored 24 hours a day.

The Mobil fire was the second refinery fire in the South Bay in two weeks. On Nov. 11, a fire broke out in a multimillion-dollar hydro treater at the Texaco facility in Wilmington. Texaco spokesman Phil Blackburn said Thursday the cause of that fire is still under investigation.