Massive blaze: Explosion sparks fire at Chevron refinery in Los Angeles; no injuries reported

A massive fire broke out at a Los Angeles County refinery Thursday night after an explosion.

Police and firefighters rushed to the Chevron refinery in El Segundo following multiple reports of the blast. According to the El Segundo Police Department , no immediate injuries or evacuations have been reported, as reported by CBS News .

The cause of the incident remains unclear, and officials have yet to release further details.

Several videos are being circulated on social media, showing a bright orange flames and thick plumes of smoke were visible for miles across El Segundo and the South Bay , as firefighters worked to contain the blaze with streams of water.

❗️APOCALYPTIC flames engulf Chevron El Segundo oil refinery — a blazing beast unleashed at the edge of Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/fsdBX7LAin

— RT (@RT_com) October 3, 2025

❗️⚠️🇺🇲 - Explosion at Chevron El Segundo Refinery

University of California San Diego's ALERTCalifornia cameras captured the initial explosion at the Chevron El Segundo Oil Refinery, just outside Los Angeles, on the evening of October 2, 2025.

The blast triggered a large fire… pic.twitter.com/VAYtCb9XiS

— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) October 3, 2025

LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell stated that crews have contained the fire to a single area of the refinery. She added that residents do not need to evacuate but advised them to remain indoors and for visitors to avoid the city for now.

"It has been contained and there is no cause for alarm for El Segundo or the surrounding areas," Mitchell said.

She also warned that the fire could impact air quality in El Segundo and neighboring communities.

Road closures were implemented along Rosecrans Avenue from Vista Del Mar to Pacific Coast Highway and along Pacific Coast Highway from Rosecrans Avenue to El Segundo Boulevard, diverting traffic away from the scene.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Gov Gavin Newsom were briefed on the incident Thursday night. Bass said in a statement on X that there was no known impact to Los Angeles International Airport .

I’ve been briefed on the fire in El Segundo outside of our city limits and I’ve also spoken with Supervisor @HollyJMitchell.

LAFD stands at the ready to assist with any mutual aid request. There is no known impact to LAX at this time.

We will continue to monitor this situation. https://t.co/VdmtUYuFps

— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) October 3, 2025

The governor’s office said it was coordinating with local and state agencies to protect the surrounding community and ensure public safety, according to a statement on X. Refinery fires are part of life in the South Bay, home to several major oil production facilities.

The Governor has been briefed on the incident at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery in Los Angeles County.

Our office is coordinating in real time with local and state agencies to protect the surrounding community and ensure public safety.

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) October 3, 2025

The refinery operates its own fire department. According to Chevron’s website, the El Segundo facility, built in 1911, processes 276,000 barrels of crude oil daily and is described as “the largest producing oil refinery on the West Coast .”

El Segundo is located just a few miles south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).