Explosion and Fire Rock Chevron Refinery in El Segundo

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2025) — A significant explosion and fire erupted at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo on Thursday night, prompting a swift response from local authorities. The blast occurred around 9:30 p.m., sending a large fireball into the night sky that was visible for miles.

The El Segundo city officials reported the fire but reassured the public that there was no immediate threat or evacuation orders in place as of 10:10 p.m. Multiple videos from residents captured the intensity of the explosion, which was accompanied by a loud roar. However, the flames diminished in intensity within the hour following the initial blast.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell confirmed shortly before 10:30 p.m. that the fire had been largely contained without any immediate reports of injuries. “There is no cause for alarm for the surrounding area,” she stated, advising residents to remain indoors for safety. Fire crews, assisted by the refinery’s own fire department, worked to suppress the flames while monitoring air quality.

Witnesses described the scene vividly. Julian Reese, 13, recalled feeling a major blast while outside with his father. Nearby at Aviation Park, Mark Rogers, 34, was playing soccer when the explosion occurred. “I thought we got nuked or something,” he said, as heavy smoke prompted the referee to cancel the game.

Local traffic was diverted away from the scene, and officials urged residents to stay home. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office announced coordination with local agencies to ensure public safety. The Chevron refinery, which has operated since 1911, is among several major oil production facilities in the South Bay region.

This incident is not the first for the El Segundo facility; firefighters struggled for two hours to extinguish a fire at the site in 2022. Similarly, a fire at the nearby Marathon Petroleum refinery in 2020 resulted in flames soaring 100 feet into the air.

As of late Thursday night, El Segundo remains unaffected in terms of airport operations, with LAX stating no flights were canceled or delayed due to the fire.

This is a developing story and more updates will follow as information becomes available.