Massive fire breaks out at Calif. oil refinery as residents feel explosion rock area: ‘Thought we got nuked’
Flames and smoke shoot out from the Chevron oil refinery in El Segundo, Calif. on Oct. 2, 2025. KABC
A powerful explosion and fire erupted late Thursday night at the Chevron Products Company refinery in El Segundo, just south of Los Angeles International Airport, shaking neighborhoods across the region.
Videos shared online showed massive flames shooting into the sky from the sprawling oil facility, visible for miles across Southern California.
According to the El Segundo Police Department, officers and firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving numerous reports of an explosion at approximately 9:30 p.m. “It felt like we got nuked or something,” resident Mike Rogers told the Los Angeles Times, adding that his adult soccer game was immediately canceled due to thick smoke filling the area.
City officials confirmed no evacuations were ordered and said the public was not in danger. No injuries were immediately reported.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the city’s fire department is on standby to assist the refinery’s private fire team, which is leading the response. The potential impact on LAX operations remains unclear.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office announced he has been briefed and is working with state and local agencies. “Our office is coordinating in real time with local and state agencies to protect the surrounding community and ensure public safety,” his press team posted on X.
The El Segundo refinery, first opened in 1911 under Standard Oil of California, is among Chevron’s largest facilities. With a rated capacity of 290,000 barrels per day and storage for 12.5 million barrels in more than 150 tanks, it supplies gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to the region.
The refinery was temporarily taken offline in May before restarting operations a week later.
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