Fire Outbreak: Martinez Oil Refinery Flaring

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Fire Outbreak: Martinez Oil Refinery Flaring. Fire erupts at Martinez refinery on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, a fire broke out amid flaring at the oil refinery leading to a public health advisory from Contra Costa Health.

Fire Outbreak: Martinez Oil Refinery Flaring

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District reports that crews responded to the Martinez Refinery Company after receiving a complaint of flaring.

When equipment malfunctions or shuts down, surplus gas is burned, a process known as flaring.

The refinery was on fire, and the fire department was summoned around 1:40 p.m. on Saturday.

A public health advisory has been issued by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office for parts of Pacheco, Martinez, and Clyde.

A shelter-in-place public health advice was issued for residents of the Martinez, Pacheco, and Clyde communities on Saturday afternoon due to a fire breakout that started at the Martinez oil refinery during flaring.

Around 4:49 p.m., the county’s Community Warning System issued a shelter-in-place notice. At 1:51 p.m., a health advice was first sent out, mentioning an unidentified occurrence that might affect those who have respiratory issues but stating that the majority of individuals would not be impacted.

“People with respiratory sensitivities may be impacted by an incident at the Martinez Refining Company,” the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office stated. The majority of folks won’t be impacted. Some people in the afflicted area may have irritation of their eyes, skin, nose, or throat. Encourage folks to go inside and wash any irritated areas of their bodies with water if they feel any irritation.

“Please go inside, close all windows and doors, and turn off all heaters, air conditioners, and fans. If not using the fireplace, close fireplace dampers and vents, and cover cracks around doors and windows with tape or damp towels,” the Contra Costa Health advisory sent via the county’s public alert system said.