Refinery Fire in April Is Blamed on Tiny Leak
A pinhole-sized leak in a pipe led to the dramatic fire last month at the Tosco Corp. refinery in Carson, company investigators have found.
Billowing smoke rose to 3,000 feet in the April 23 blaze, which erupted in a coker unit and drew 160 firefighters who battled the flames for three hours. No one was injured and there were no evacuations.
The company is still trying to figure out what caused the leak, Tosco spokesman Andy Perez said Wednesday.
The South Coast Quality Air Management District has since issued a notice of violation to the refinery for visible emissions, a routine action in such cases.
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