Massive Smoke Plumes In Bay Area Due To Flaring At Chevron Refinery

RICHMOND, CA — Massive plumes of smoke and flames were visible Monday night due to flaring at the Chevron refinery in Richmond.

The flaring was the result of a power outage affecting a portion of the facility, the refinery said in a social media post around 4:15 p.m. Employees were working to minimize and stop the flaring and a Community Warning System Level 1 was issued, although no action was required by the public.

By 9 p.m., the flaring had stopped.

"Our workforce is still working to safely recover operations impacted from the earlier loss of power," the refinery said Monday night on social media. "While we hope to avoid it, intermittent flaring is a possibility as we continue to make operational adjustments."

The refinery notified Contra Costa Health around 3:45 p.m. about the flaring and the agency was sending a hazardous materials team to investigate. No public health advisories were issued, according to Contra Costa Health.

Chevron was also in communication with the Richmond Fire Department, the Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Program and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Inspectors were investigating at the scene, according to the district, which said in a social media post at 5:30 p.m. that it had received 51 complaints about the incident.

"There is potential for smoke impacts in the immediate area and downwind neighborhoods," the post said. "Avoid smoke exposure and follow instructions from local health officials."

Numerous videos circulating on social media showed the smoke and flames from the flaring.

For real-time air quality data, visit www.richmondairmonitoring.org.