Thousands of East Bay residents were ordered to stay in their homes with the windows and doors closed Monday night after a series of explosions and fires tore through Chevron’s Richmond refinery.
The explosions started about 6:15 p.m. and at least two large fires spewed thick, black smoke into the darkening sky.
The fire started at the refinery’s No. 4 Crude Unit, Chevron officials said. Just before 6:30 p.m., an inspection crew discovered that there was a diesel leak in a line in the unit – and that the leak was growing.
Shortly after the crew evacuated the area, the diesel ignited, said Nigel Hearne, manager of the refinery.
