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Contra Costa Health on Sunday recommended that residents of Martinez, parts of Pacheco and Clyde who have respiratory sensitivity remain indoors with doors and windows closed while smoke continues to clear from Saturday’s fire at the Martinez Refining Company.
Contra Costa Health noted in a news release that as of 11 a.m. Sunday, the fire was mostly out, but the agency would keep its health advisory in place for people with respiratory sensitivity until the fire was completely extinguished.
Saturday’s fire injured at least six people. Four people were taken to a hospital for treatment Saturday and three were released, said Ted Leach, a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District captain. Two others were treated at the scene and released, he said.
Contra Costa Health said it was first notified of the event when the Martinez Refining Co., owned by PBF Energy, reported the fire through the county’s Community Warning System at 1:49 p.m. Saturday. The company said the fire that broke out during flaring, which is the burning of excess gas that occurs during equipment shutdowns or malfunctions.
The shelter-in-place alert was declared at 4:49 p.m. for specific neighborhoods near the refinery and lifted about 9 p.m. Saturday.
A unified command was set up between the company, the fire district and the City of Martinez to oversee the fire fight. Other fire departments were called to assist with the coordinated response and keep the fire contained to the 860-acre refinery, the company said.
Several roads were closed including Marina Vista Avenue, from Interstate 680 to Court Street, and Shell Avenue from Marina Vista Avenue to Pacheco Boulevard, the company said.
At the height of the fire, Contra Costa’s Community Warning System issued a Level 3 alert, the most severe in its four-tier system, which begins at Level 0.
To view county alerts see cwsalerts.com. For information on county Hazmat responses see cchealth.org/hazmat.
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