Flare causes black smoke over North Manhattan Beach
Morning commuters throughout the South Bay witnessed a large plume of black smoke from a controlled burn off Tuesday at the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo. Photo by Kevin Cody
by Andrea Ruse
A large plume of black smoke from the Chevron refinery in El Segundo spread out over the ocean Tuesday morning.
The smoke was the result of a controlled burn off from a safety flare, according to Lily Craig, External Affairs Manager at Chevron. The burn off started at 9:20 a.m. and lasted for approximately 20 min.
“Our facility lost an air compressor which provides instrument air to several process units,” read a statement released by Chevron. “This situation resulted in an upset to our fuel gas system which resulted in fuel gas being sent to a safety flare.”
Generally, flares are used to burn off excess fuel produced during the refinery process.
But they’re also triggered by equipment break downs. These flares cause the flame to be larger than usual as it burns leftover fuel in the equipment line.
El Segundo Fire Battalion Chief Breck Slover said there were no safety issues regarding the burn off. ESFD is investigating the cause of the machinery malfunction.
“There are no environmental or health hazards associated with burn offs,” Slover said.
For more information, call (310) 615-5342. ER
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Hermosa Beach 36th Annual Fourth of July Ironman: Run a mile, paddle a mile, chug a six pack
- SANTA MONICA PIER : Surf: 1-2 ft. Light and variable west-northwest winds with smooth seas. Small long period swell from the south-southwest.
- VENICE BEACH : 1-3 ft - ankle to waist high and poor
- DOCKWEILER STATE BEACH : Surf: 0-1 ft. Light and variable west-northwest winds with smooth seas. Small long period swell from the south-southwest.
- SHITPIPE : Surf: 0-1 ft. Light and variable west-northwest winds with smooth seas. Small long period swell from the south-southwest.
- CHEVRON REEF : Surf: 0-1 ft. Light and variable west-northwest winds with smooth seas. Small long period swell from the south-southwest.
- EL PORTO : 1-3 ft - ankle to waist high and poor
- MANHATTAN BEACH : 1-3 ft - ankle to waist high and poor
- HERMOSA BEACH : Surf: 0-1 ft. Light and variable west-northwest winds with smooth seas. Small long period swell from the south-southwest.
- REDONDO BREAKWATER : Surf: 0-1 ft. Light and variable west-northwest winds with smooth seas. Small short period wind waves from the west.
- TORRANCE BEACH/HAGGERTY'S : 1-2 ft - ankle to knee high and poor
- PV COVE : Surf: 0-1 ft. Light and variable west-northwest winds with smooth seas. Small short period wind waves from the west.
- LUNADA BAY : Surf: 0-1 ft. Light and variable west-northwest winds with smooth seas. Small long period swell from the southwest.
- CABRILLO BEACH : Surf: 0-1 ft. Light and variable west winds with smooth seas. Small long period swell from the south.
“Our facility lost an air compressor which provides instrument air to several process units .. This situation resulted in an upset to our fuel gas system which resulted in fuel gas being sent to a safety flare.”
Is that even English? Damn, do they need help in the communications department.