Residents in Richmond were alerted to intermittent flaring at the Chevron Richmond Refinery this morning, with the fire department confirming the incident. According to an NBC Bay Area report, the flares were due to "internal operational issues" within the refinery, and Chevron teams were responding to address the situation. The Richmond Fire Department issued a "Level 1 Hazmat" notice following the event, indicating that while awareness is necessary, the public does not need to take action.
The refinery took to social media to communicate with the public about the flaring, which occurred due to an upset in a process unit. "Our employees are working quickly to minimize and stop the flaring," Chevron Richmond stated in a post. Despite the dramatic visuals that flares can present, the company assured residents that the devices are a regular, highly regulated safety measure to relieve pressure during refinery processing.
Community members seeking to stay informed about such incidents can sign up for Contra Costa County's Community Warning System by texting "CCHEALTH" to 21423. This system is designed to provide timely notifications for a variety of hazards, including those arising from industrial activities in the area.
