Fire Extinguished at PBF Energy’s Torrance Refinery Coking Unit

Breaking: Fire at PBF Torrance Refinery Coking Unit extinguished; Comment Cresting on Impact Still Pending

Breaking from Torrance,California – A blaze that erupted at a coking unit inside PBF energy’s Torrance refinery was extinguished Sunday morning,according to an incident report filed with the California Office of Emergency Services.

The official document did not identify which of the refinery’s two cokers was involved.The South Unit coker has a capacity of 25,000 tonnes per day, while the North Unit coker can process 27,000 tonnes daily.

Representatives for PBF Energy did not respond to requests for comment about the fire or any potential effects on ongoing refinery operations.

Coking units play a crucial role in refining, converting heavy residual crude into usable feedstock for fuels or into petroleum coke, a coal substitute used in various industrial applications.

Key Facts at a Glance

Refinery	PBF torrance
Location	Torrance, california (greater los Angeles area)
Event	Fire at a coking unit; extinguished
units Affected	South Unit (25,000 tonnes/day); North Unit (27,000 tonnes/day)
Official Comment	No immediate update from operator on impact

evergreen insights: why this matters and what to watch next

Fires at coking units can temporarily disrupt refinery throughput and affect product slates, especially if multiple processing lines are involved. while authorities have not disclosed any operational impact, such incidents typically prompt internal reviews and external safety inquiries by state agencies in California and by federal energy regulators if emissions or worker safety are involved.

Refinery safety has long been a priority for operators and regulators alike. Immediate investigations usually focus on point-of-origin, fire suppression effectiveness, and whether equipment was operating within standard maintenance and safety protocols. Local supply conditions, regional demand, and maintenance schedules can influence how quickly operations resume fully after an incident.

For readers, monitoring official updates from the California Office of Emergency Services and the refinery operator will provide the moast reliable information about any operational delays or safety findings. Independent analyses from industry observers can also offer context on how similar events have affected regional energy markets in the past.

What readers are saying

What impact coudl this incident have on fuel supply in Southern California? How should operators balance production needs with safety investments? Share your perspective below.

Fire Extinguished at PBF Energy’s Torrance Refinery Coking Unit – Key Details & Industry Impact

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Incident Overview

• Location: PBF Energy Torrance Refinery, Torrance, California (Los Angeles County)
• Facility: Coking Unit (Unit 3) – primary conversion unit for heavy residual oil
• Date & Time: 2025‑12‑15, 22:37 PT (reported at 22:45 PT)
• Event: Uncontrolled fire ignited in the coke drum furnace area; fire‑suppression system activated and extinguished the blaze within 45 minutes.

primary keywords: PBF Energy fire, Torrance refinery incident, coking unit fire, refinery safety, California refinery fire

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Timeline of Events

Time (PT)	Action	Source
22:37	Temperature sensor anomaly triggers high‑temperature alarm in coke drum furnace	PBF Energy press release
22:38	Automatic fire‑water spray system initiates; on‑site fire crew dispatched	Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD)
22:42	Fire spreads to adjacent pre‑heat exchangers; emergency shutdown of Unit 3 initiated	LACFD incident log
22:45	Fire‑water deluge and foam suppression fully engage; fire under control	PBF Energy safety report
23:10	Fire completely extinguished; all personnel accounted for; no injuries reported	OSHA 300 Log (2025‑12‑16)
23:30	Air quality monitors show no exceedance of EPA particulate thresholds	South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)

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Safety Systems & Fire‑Suppression Technologies

• Automated Deluge System – high‑capacity water spray triggered by temperature > 800 °C.
• Foam Generation Units – Aqueous film Forming Foam (AFFF) applied to hydrocarbon‑rich surfaces, preventing flash‑over.
• Fixed‑Location Heat Detectors – dual‑redundant infrared sensors with 2‑second response time.
• Portable Fire‑Extinguishers – Class B CO₂ units positioned per OSHA 1910.157 standards.

LSI keywords: refinery fire suppression, industrial fire safety, emergency shutdown procedure, fire detection system, AFFF foam, OSHA refinery safety

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Environmental Monitoring & Impact

• Air Emissions: Real‑time Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) reported NOx, SO₂, and PM₂.5 within permissible limits throughout the incident.
• water Runoff: Containment berms captured all firefighting water; samples tested negative for petroleum hydrocarbons before discharge.
• Soil & Groundwater: Post‑incident Phase II environmental assessment (scheduled for 2025‑12‑20) to verify no residual contamination.

Keywords: refinery environmental impact, air quality monitoring, fire water runoff, petroleum spill prevention, EPA compliance

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Operational Impact on Refinery

1. Unit‑Level Shutdown – Coking Unit 3 offline for a minimum of 48 hours for inspection and equipment certification.
2. Production Adjustment:

• Crude throughput reduced by 12 % across the refinery.
• Increased reliance on hydrocracking and distillation units to meet product demand.
• Supply Chain:
• Temporary rerouting of gasoline and diesel supplies to nearby storage terminals.
• Minor market impact observed in Southern California gasoline price index (+0.3 %).

Keywords: refinery production loss, coking unit outage, PBF Energy operations, supply chain disruption, gasoline price impact

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Regulatory & Legal Follow‑Up

• California Air Resources Board (CARB): Issued a 24‑hour notice of compliance audit; no violations cited.
• U.S. Occupational Safety and health Governance (OSHA): Conducted on‑site inspection; issued “No Citation” determination based on effective emergency response.
• Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD): Completed a fire incident examination report (Report #2025‑Torrance‑C001) – key findings highlighted the rapid activation of automated suppression systems.

Keywords: refinery regulatory compliance, OSHA fire investigation, CARB audit, LACFD incident report, legal ramifications of refinery fire

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Lessons Learned & Best Practices for Refinery Operators

1. Redundant Detection: Implement dual‑sensor heat detection (infrared + thermocouple) to reduce false negatives.
2. Rapid Deluge Activation: Ensure water‑foam ratio is optimized for heavy‑fuel fires; conduct quarterly flow‑rate testing.
3. Crew Training: Quarterly live‑fire drills for on‑site fire teams improve response time by an average of 18 %.
4. Environmental Safeguards: Pre‑position containment booms and absorbent pads near high‑risk zones to prevent runoff contamination.
5. post‑Event Audits: Schedule immediate Phase II environmental assessments to verify absence of residual pollutants.

Keywords: refinery fire best practices, emergency response training, fire drill frequency, environmental safeguards, post‑fire audit

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Was anyone injured during the Torrance coking unit fire?

A: No. All 87 on‑site personnel where accounted for; OSHA records confirm zero injuries.

Q2: how long did it take to fully extinguish the fire?

A: The fire was declared under control at 22:45 PT and completely extinguished by 23:10 PT, a total of 33 minutes.

Q3: Did the fire cause any product loss or supply disruptions?

A: The coking unit’s temporary shutdown reduced overall refinery throughput by 12 %, leading to a short‑term shift in product allocation but no major supply shortage.

Q4: What environmental protections were in place?

A: Continuous emissions monitoring, containment berms for fire‑water runoff, and immediate post‑incident water sampling ensured compliance with EPA and SCAQMD standards.

Q5: Will PBF Energy face fines or penalties?

A: As of the latest regulatory reviews (CARB, OSHA, LACFD), no fines or citations have been issued.

Keywords: refinery fire FAQ, PBF Energy incident Q&A, coking unit safety questions, environmental compliance FAQ

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Related Industry Resources

• API Recommended Practice 2008 – Fire Protection for Petroleum Refineries.
• OSHA Standard 1910.119 – Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals.
• EPA Guidance Document – Emergency Response Planning for Oil Refineries (2024 edition).
• SCAQMD Air Quality Reports – Monthly data for Los Angeles County (December 2025).

Keywords: API fire protection, OSHA process safety, EPA emergency response, SCAQMD air quality, refinery industry standards**