Significant Blaze at Chevron Refinery near Los Angeles

A major fire ignited at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo, following a Thursday night explosion.

According to the El Segundo Police, both police and fire units were dispatched to the site after numerous explosion reports. A bystander likened the blast's impact to a minor quake.

The LA County Fire Department also mobilized to assist. The California Governor's Emergency Services Office is working with state and local authorities.

The refinery has its specialized firefighting team. Mayor Chris Pimentel of El Segundo mentioned no injuries have been reported.

"With our firefighters arriving promptly from just a quarter mile away, our concern remains high as investigations proceed," Pimentel explained.

Fire crews, under the direction of LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, managed to localize the fire to a specific area within the refinery. Residents were advised to stay indoors and visitors to avoid the city temporarily.

"The situation is under control, posing no threat to El Segundo and its neighboring areas," asserted Mitchell.

Mitchell cautioned that air quality in El Segundo and nearby regions might be temporarily compromised. Although the Air Quality Management District observed no increased toxin levels, conditions remain under observation.

Nahal Mogharabi from AQMD suggested residents keep windows shut if smoke becomes evident, even though no current rise in pollutants is detected.

As per Chevron's data, the El Segundo refinery, operational since 1911, processes 276,000 barrels of crude daily, marking it as the largest in the western United States.

Located a short distance from LAX, the incident hasn't disrupted airport activities; flight schedules remain unaffected.