Enormous fire erupts at Chevron Refinery in Richmond, CA - toxic fumes from crude oil burning

[Xajii]

RESIDENTS OF RICHMOND, SAN PABLO, SURROUNDING AREAS: STAY INSIDE, SHUT ALL DOORS, WINDOWS, ETC. TURN OFF HEATERS

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...ond-calif?lite

Also, expect terrible gas prices on the west coast incoming

EDIT: Live video http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/live-video/

EDIT 2: I'd like to take this time to say that sadly, this is not that uncommon in oil towns across the country. Houston and surrounding areas deal with problems similar to this (though perhaps not on this scale) with more frequency than should be okay. The ramifications of inhaling, coming in contact with, or generally living around some of these toxic fumes are not fully understand, but obviously, it can't be good. People are reporting a smell of "burning plastic and other things that make you cough". Even just being outside for a few minutes caused one women to feel grittiness in her eyes, skin irritation, and so on - this being miles away from the refinery.

The reason it is important to follow these events and respond to them is not just because they are an immediate emergency to certain areas. It is because the systems we are using to produce fuel are not only unsustainable, they are highly dangerous.

[Bregor]

CNN: Piers Morgan rerun.
CNN Headline News: Dr. Drew rerun.
MSNBC: Maddow rerun.
FOX News: Hannity rerun.

Why the fuck do we even have 24-hour cable news networks? And where is Will McAvoy when I need him?

[Melena]

I'm about 20 minutes from there out in Dublin. Can't really see anything from here but yea, incoming gas price increase.

[Haiko]

I live an hour away and found out on reddit but can't find any on news websites... the fuck

[Outlaw]

http://sfappeal.com/news/images/richmondfire.jpg
http://sfist.com/attachments/SFist_Brock/IMG_9040.jpg

damn..

[Caiyuo]

This is fairly fucking terrifying for the people in the area, going off of the emergency message and what information is on reddit the skies are black nearby.

[Xajii]

It's on Al Jazeera http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americ...249529851.html

[6souls]

http://storify.com/nbcbayarea/fire-e...hmond-refinery

Toasty

[Correction]

Somewhere out there there is an oil executive ecstatic over this news in the light of dropping crude prices.

[Fievel]

Well that's just fucking great.

[Bregor]

@nbcbayarea

The Richmond refinery fire has been contained and the shelter in place has been lifted.

.

[bluefan]

Phew.

Thought the first stage of the zombie apocalypse was upon us.

[Rhyis.]

Why the fuck do we even have 24-hour cable news networks? And where is Will McAvoy when I need him?

He's currently high as a kite atm.

[oldoldman]

This still isn't on major news websites...

[Bregor]

He's currently high as a kite atm.

Was hoping for some Rocket Man schtick in that episode, lol.

[Cail]

CNN: Piers Morgan rerun.
CNN Headline News: Dr. Drew rerun.
MSNBC: Maddow rerun.
FOX News: Hannity rerun.

Why the fuck do we even have 24-hour cable news networks? And where is Will McAvoy when I need him?

seriously this...wtf

[miokomioko]

I'm ded. :[

[Demosthenes11]

I woke up sick this morning and live 15 minutes way from this. COINCIDENCE!?

[zoobernut]

*puts tinfoil hat on* anyone notice how perfect the timing for this "disaster" is with respect to gas prices? I find it quite convenient that gas prices have been plummeting and there have been no natural or man made disasters lately for the gas companies to use as an excuse to raise gas prices. They don't want to keep watching their record profits keep dropping towards normal profits. I wouldn't be surprised if they hired someone to set fire to their refinery so they would have a highly public reason to raise gas prices on everyone. *tinfoil hat off*

Man that was fun.

[Churchill]

Nah, they would have coordinated with MSM if they were going to do that. No real point to do it and not have them dedicate all morning/afternoon to telling everyone how sick they're going to be and how much this will influence gas prices and how bad the speculation could really jump the price per barrel.