Fire at Chevron Refinery in El Segundo, California
A fire broke out at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo, California, on the evening of Thursday, October 2, 2025. The fire, which was preceded by an explosion according to some reports, sent large flames into the sky that were visible for miles.
The Chevron El Segundo refinery is a major oil production facility. It is the largest refinery on the West Coast of the United States, processing approximately 276,000 barrels of crude oil each day. The refinery produces a range of petroleum products, including gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel.
Emergency crews responded to the incident, and the fire was contained to a single processing unit. Chevron confirmed that all personnel and contractors were accounted for and that there were no injuries. While there were no immediate evacuations ordered for El Segundo, a temporary shelter-in-place order was issued for nearby Manhattan Beach. Authorities monitored the air quality in the surrounding areas, and while elevated levels of volatile organic compounds were detected overnight, officials stated there were no immediate air pollution concerns the following morning.
[Speculation] The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by Chevron. An internal investigation has been launched to determine the root cause of the incident. It is not yet known which specific processing unit was involved or what might have led to the initial explosion and fire.
Sources:
Associated Press: Flames visible for miles after a fire erupts at a Chevron refinery outside Los Angeles
Discovery Alert: Major Fire at Chevron's El Segundo Refinery Threatens California Fuel Supply
For a visual of the incident, you can watch this live news report. This video provides live coverage of the fire at the Chevron oil refinery, showing the scale of the blaze and the emergency response.