Martinez residents got an unwelcome midweek jolt today when a fire broke out at the Martinez Refining Company, sending smoke drifting over nearby neighborhoods. County hazardous‑materials teams said the blaze at the refinery had been extinguished, and crews were out checking the air around the plant for any signs of trouble. Reports of smoke and odors from surrounding areas prompted officials to collect samples before deciding whether the public needed additional guidance.
County HazMat Teams Tracking Smoke And Odors
Contra Costa Health said on X that its HazMat team was in the field doing air monitoring near the Martinez Refining Company to assess any potential public‑health impacts and confirmed the fire had been put out, according to Contra Costa Health. County officials said crews were taking samples along the refinery fence line and in nearby neighborhoods to look for contaminants that might affect residents who saw smoke or smelled something off.
Our Hazmat Team is doing air monitoring near the Martinez Refining Company to assess any potential public health impacts from a fire at the refinery earlier today. The fire has been extinguished.
— Contra Costa Health (@CoCoHealth) May 6, 2026
Refinery Location And Ongoing Air Monitoring
The Martinez Refining Company lists its facility at 3485 Pacheco Boulevard and says it runs a fence‑line air‑monitoring program around the site, according to the Martinez Refining Company. The company publishes near‑real‑time readings from those monitors on its public Martinez Refining Company Monitoring Dashboard for anyone who wants to keep an eye on local air conditions.
Regulators Turn Up Heat After Past Incidents
After a series of releases and a major pool fire last year, regulators have tightened scrutiny of the refinery. A joint prosecution by the Contra Costa District Attorney and the Bay Area Air District led to a $10 million judgment against the facility in February 2026, according to the Bay Area Air District. Local reporting has also detailed an earlier explosion at the plant that triggered shelter‑in‑place orders in February 2025; see Hoodline for background on that incident.
What Neighbors Can Do About Smells Or Symptoms
Contra Costa Health’s safety‑inspection files and incident reports lay out contact information and step‑by‑step guidance for residents who notice strong odors or begin experiencing symptoms. The county posts official documents and updates for major incidents in those files, according to Contra Costa Health. While agencies analyze the latest air samples and publish results, residents can also track near‑real‑time fence‑line readings on the Martinez Refining Company Monitoring Dashboard.
