388200 06: Smoke rises around towers at a Tosco oil refinery at sunset after a fire burning as hot as 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit melted steel and sent a huge cloud of toxic smoke across the urban landscape, April 23, 2001 in Carson, CA, 15 miles south of Los Angeles. The refinery was running at full capacity, around 125,000 barrels of oil per day, when a blaze broke out in the ''coker'' unit, where petroleun coke is burned in the making of gasoline. Lost production could add to the recent spike in gasoline prices, which analysts say could hit $3 a gallon or more. (Photo by David McNew/Newsmakers)
Benecia, California – A large fire broke out Monday morning at the Valero oil refinery in Benicia, sending towering plumes of thick black smoke into the air and prompting a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents. The fire, which ignited around 9 a.m., was quickly responded to by local fire crews and was controlled by late morning. So far there are no reports of injuries, but the incident has sparked concerns over air quality and refinery safety in the region.
The Benicia Fire Department issued an urgent warning shortly after flames were first spotted at the facility, located at 3400 East Second Street. “Units are currently responding to an active fire at the Benicia Valero Refinery. If you can smell or see smoke in your area, close doors and windows and stay inside,” the department posted on social media.
Motorists along Interstate 680 and residents throughout Benicia and nearby Concord reported seeing the large smoke column rising from the site. In response, officials issued a temporary shelter-in-place order, including for Robert Semple Elementary School, though school officials said there was no immediate danger to students.
By 10:40 a.m., Solano County emergency authorities lifted the shelter order as firefighters confirmed that they had contained the blaze. Despite the fire being under control, health and environmental agencies remain on high alert.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued an air quality advisory for southern Solano County and northern Contra Costa County, citing potential impacts from the smoke, including increased particulate pollution and hazardous airborne chemicals. “Exposure to smoke is unhealthy, even for short periods of time,” the agency warned. Authorities have advised residents in downwind neighborhoods to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary outdoor activity.
Benicia officials requested drone-based air monitoring to assess the situation more thoroughly, and Contra Costa Health dispatched a HazMat team to monitor potential impacts on surrounding communities. So far, authorities have said that while particulate matter levels are elevated, other pollutants remain below hazardous thresholds.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and Valero has not issued a statement. The incident comes just weeks after Valero Energy Corporation announced plans to potentially idle or cease operations at the Benicia refinery by April 2026, raising broader questions about the facility’s long-term viability.
The refinery, originally built in the late 1960s and acquired by Valero in 2000, has long been a major fixture of Benicia’s industrial landscape.
