The blast on the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance on Wednesday is a reminder of the dangers that exist at such amenities. The South Bay is dotted with oil refineries and there’s a historical past of destructive accidents. The issue received much political attention in the 1980s and nineteen nineties after a string of blasts:

1996: A spectacular explosion and fire ripped via a Texaco refinery in Wilmington. No major injuries were reported. Nearby residents said it felt like an enormous earthquake. Black smoke soared thousands of ft into the air, raining a effective mud and metal debris on nearby businesses and houses before firefighters contained the blaze about three hours after it began. The explosion shook boats docked 2 miles away in San Pedro harbor.

1994: A gasoline explosion ripped by means of Mobil’s Torrance refinery, sending flames 40 ft into the air and injuring no less than 28 individuals, no less than six critically. An elevated pipe carrying liquid petroleum gas apparently sprang a leak, releasing flammable vapor into the air that exploded within moments. The resulting fireplace burned for about half an hour before it was extinguished by Torrance firefighters and Mobil hearth crews.

1988:One particular person was killed and 9 others injured in a massive blast at Mobil’s Torrance refinery. Among the injured suffered critical burns. The case resulted in a criminal investigation and a political motion to make the refinery safer.

1985:Two individuals had been killed and 45 injured when a sequence of explosions from a gasoline-processing pump tore by way of an Atlantic Richfield refinery in Carson, sending 5,000-diploma hydrogen flames taking pictures lots of of toes into the air. Officials described it as one of many worst refinery accidents in the realm in 20 years.