Fire at Chevron's El Segundo Refinery Contained; No Injuries Reported

A fire broke out at Chevron's El Segundo refinery in California on the evening of October 2, 2025, sending flames visible for miles and prompting a temporary shelter-in-place advisory for nearby residents. The blaze, which began around 9:30 p.m. in the refinery's southeast corner, was fully extinguished by late Friday morning. All personnel were accounted for, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

The El Segundo refinery, operational since 1911, processes up to 290,000 barrels of crude oil daily and supplies approximately 20% of motor vehicle fuels and 40% of jet fuel used in Southern California. Despite the incident, operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) were not immediately impacted. However, the disruption is expected to have a modest effect on gasoline prices and a more significant increase in jet fuel costs, with prices surging by 33 cents per gallon. To compensate for the shortfall, California may need to increase jet fuel imports from Asia.

Local authorities, including the El Segundo Fire Department and mutual aid partners, responded promptly to the incident. Air quality monitoring showed elevated volatile organic compound (VOC) levels overnight but no immediate threat by morning. Residents were advised to stay indoors if air quality worsened. The South Coast Air Quality Management District continues to monitor the situation closely.