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Fire At Carson Refinery Briefly Shuts Down 405 Freeway
Scene of the refinery fire as captured by passersby on social media. (Brian Hayes via Twitter)
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A big fire reported at a refinery in Carson shut down the 405 Freeway for less than an hour, according to the California Highway Patrol.
SIGALERT IN CARSON: I-405 AT WILMINGTON AVE, ALL NB AND SB LANES BLOCKED FOR UNKNOWN DURATION DUE TO A REFINERY FIRE
— CHP PIO - LA County (@CHPsouthern) February 26, 2020
The fire was covered live both on social media by witnesses and on TV by a number of local news stations.
As the fire grew visible from a distance, the Los Angeles Fire Department reminded people the area was out of its jurisdiction and would he handled by the county fire department.
Refinery fires are not uncommon in Southern Calfornia. Sharon McNary, who covers infrastructure, notes that higher gas prices for the time the refinery is shut down for cleanup and repair are to expected. A refinery in Torrance was closed for at least a year after an explosion in 2015.
LAist will have more context and details in the morning.
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