Contra Costa supervisor demands audit, town hall meeting over Martinez refinery fire
Contra Costa County Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston on Tuesday called for a full facility audit of Martinez Refining Company after a large explosion and fire at the facility prompted surrounding communities to shelter in place Saturday.
The incident emitted huge plumes of smoke and injured six refinery employees, five of whom have either since been released from the hospital or were treated and released at the scene Saturday. Contra Costa Health officials on Sunday advised residents with respiratory sensitivity to stay indoors if possible, as concerns about air quality persisted. That advisory remained in place as of Tuesday.
Refinery officials on Monday evening said the fire was still burning. Though officials described it as a "small residual fire" that was "under control," they noted it could still produce smoke until further notice.
Scales-Preston was elected to the board in November and represents District 5, where the refinery is located. In the statementshe released Tuesday, she said she's been on the ground and in meetings with refinery representatives, Martinez Mayor Brianne Zorn, Contra Costa Health officials, first responders, and members of the community.
"I understand the frustration, fear, and anger experienced by Martinez residents in the wake of Saturday's fire at the Martinez Refining Company," Scales-Preston said in the statement. "This is the third major incident since BPF Energy purchased the refinery in 2020 and many more spills and releases have occurred since then. This is not acceptable, and I am working to get answers for our community."
On Thanksgiving 2022, the refinery accidentally released more than 20 tons of industrial chemicals, covering people's cars and homes in metallic dust. Then in July of 2023, the refinery spewed petroleum coke dust into the air. There have also been numerous flaring incidents.
She acknowledged the county and regulatory agencies will investigate the fire and the danger it posed -- and may still pose -- for the community. She said she wants to go beyond those investigations.
"I am requesting a full facility audit under the provisions of the county's industrial safety ordinance," Scales-Preston said. "This independent oversight is necessary if we are to have confidence in the management and operation of the refinery."
The supervisor said her biggest concern is the health and safety of Martinez residents, workers, and the greater Contra Costa County community.
"I will keep working to find answers and implement changes as soon as possible," Scales-Preston said. "The refinery must face consequences for any violations found in the investigation. When we have more information, I will convene a town hall meeting to share what we've learned and get feedback from residents."
The refinery is shut down except for required utility systems. Updates will be posted at www.cwsalerts.com and www.cchealth.org
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
16 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Asking Eric: Advice for visiting grandma with dementia
Dear Eric: We live in the same town as my son's family. He and his wife have two little boys. Our daughter-in-law's parents have many nice homes, including a local condo. Her mother takes charge and makes plans for every holiday unless she's traveling. And we are never invited, despite our invites to them whenever we've squeezed in some plans. My son knows how we feel, agrees, but begs us not to say anything because they are so touchy. We don't want to cause trouble for him, but it is getting pretty hard to remain silent. Thoughts? – Uninvited Dear Uninvited: I really wish your son would say something to his in-laws about this. I understand that no one is under any obligation to invite anyone else into their home and that this 'touchy' relationship with his wife's family likely has other pain points. But you need an advocate here and it's (relatively) easier for him to stand up for you than for you to insert yourself. Short of that, however, you might want to have a conversation with your son and daughter-in-law about sharing holidays. The intention isn't to incite a turf war with your daughter-in-law's parents. Rather, by saying, 'I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year and I'd like for you to come' (or Fourth of July or Arbor Day, whatever the case may be), you start to rebalance the scales. The in-law's wants and plans don't have to be the default. By asking for what you want (or a version of what you want), you'll also be giving your son and daughter-in-law the chance to exercise their own autonomy. Maybe they don't want to automatically go to her parents' every year. Splitting family holidays can get complicated, but it's important to remember the ultimate goal is quality time together, in whichever configuration works best. Dear Eric: I'm a sophomore in high school and I read your column in the Seattle Times. My grandma has dementia. Over the past year, we've noticed more and more signs and convinced her to move into a nursing home a few months ago because we can't provide the constant care she needs. She's at a more advanced stage now and can't walk or feed herself, and she forgets who we are sometimes, which is hard for all of us. I love her so, so much and she was such a big part of my life, but now I can barely get through visits without breaking down. I hate seeing her like this and I'm finding myself avoiding visits because I can't face seeing her in a wheelchair and being so confused. She doesn't have a lot of time left and I don't want to regret not seeing her more, but I don't know how to get through the visits. I feel so guilty, but I don't feel brave enough to go. Is there anything I can do? – Loving Granddaughter Dear Granddaughter: The grief we feel when a loved one develops dementia can be incredibly complex. I'm so sorry for what your grandmother is going through and what you're experiencing. Right now, you're likely grieving the aspect of the relationship you've lost, as well as what's going on in the present. You may also be feeling some grief about what's to come. That's a lot – past, present and future all coming together in every visit to the nursing home. So, please try to grant yourself some grace. This is hard and sometimes bravery looks different. Regret about not spending more time with a loved one, or not spending the right kind of time, is complicated, too. It's something we can rarely control, but which we can guide in a different direction. Before you visit your grandmother, remind yourself that if your grandmother doesn't remember you, that's not the full truth of your relationship. Pull up photos or videos that bring to mind times that felt happier for you. This phase is a part of her journey – and your shared journey together – but it's not the whole story. When a loved one is nearing the end of their life, we can sometimes develop an 'all or nothing' feeling. As if the way we respond is the only thing that's going to matter or the only thing we'll remember. That's not true, but it takes work to reinforce that internally. This is a time for you to communicate where you are and what you're feeling with your parents and other loved ones. You can also reach out to a counselor at your school, if one is available, or look up dementia or grief support groups online. You'll find that you're not alone and you don't have to navigate this on your own. Take the time you need, be gentle with yourself, and hold on to the full arc of your grandmother's story.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
As Father's Day approaches, she finds a sign that her dad is always present
My dad did it again. He sent a sign, this time on his birthday. It was a day I made extra busy, which in retrospect could have been subconscious planning. Skeptics would say it was a coincidence, or that I looked for the sign. But I did not. The hello from above was sudden and more than subtle. I had actually traveled home by plane that day, after my husband and I visited our son. The morning was whirlwind enough, getting yelled at by TSA agents, flipping luggage here and there, tying shoes in a rush, flying through the clouds, finding our car at the economy parking lot, then oddly missing the correct highway connection at the airport exit. There was no way I was trying to be spiritual or all woo-woo on a travel day. Once we arrived home, I greeted my brother. He was in town to keep our mom company while I was away. The three of us were sitting and chatting about my trip, when something outside the window caught my eye. A deer. In the early afternoon. In my suburban backyard. That yard is in the middle of a cul de sac completely surrounded by other houses with kids running around and jumping on trampolines. Everywhere you look, there are huffing joggers and whiz-by cars and zippy bikes and raging lawn mowers. Unusual deer appearances happened to me twice before, both times related to my dad. Once in New York on a rainy night when I realized his life was in danger, and then again, a year to the exact day of that first appearance, but in my Kansas yard. We managed to grab a picture of the deer before it bolted. It spotted us gasping and pointing by the window. I reminded my brother it was dad's birthday. We gasped again. (Last Thanksgiving, when my other brother was here, a barred owl planted itself on a tree near my front door. Again, I don't live in the Hundred Acre Wood. Another sign? Maybe.) I used to complain about this time of year. Every mid-May through mid-June, Mother's Day, Father's Day and both my parents' birthdays were clustered together. It was always Hallmark whiplash. In my case, before the deer appeared, I was thinking this upcoming Father's Day might be a little rough. And like Mother's Day, Father's Day can stir up some bittersweet feelings for many folks. I think it filters down to where you are in life, and your parent-child history. Maybe all your loved ones are here, and everything is close to perfect. If so, fire up that grill and pour some ketchup on your good fortune. Or maybe, for a million reasons, your recent expectations of how family life should be are not aligned with reality. And I use the word aligned intentionally because no matter what, most dads are automotive-ly hyper aware of the importance of straight wheels and regular tire rotations. Everything in life can be whack, a dad can miss the mark in so many ways, but if the treads on the tires are wearing evenly maybe he's trying. Old dad might say the wrong things or wear embarrassing jeans, but he could be trying in ways we never realize. I don't know. My dad always did his best even though he was born in a time and place of historic setbacks and tragedies. He had no head starts and no parenthood manual. He was an immigrant who enriched America with his wit, his charm, his work, his creativity, his service in the U.S. Army and most of all, the genuine love he passed down to his beloved grandchildren. He did his best to show up for all of them. And now, they are all making this world a better place. My dad's happy moments were always around nature, especially in his backyard garden. I don't think that deer showing up in mine — on his birthday — was a mere coincidence. Father's Day is going to be OK. Reach Denise Snodell at stripmalltree@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Auburn Sustenance Project feeds hundreds of hungry K-12 students
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – When school lets out in Auburn, hunger sets in. While most families are planning vacations or sleeping in, hundreds of Auburn City School children are quietly going without meals—because when the cafeteria closes, so does their only reliable source of food. It's a crisis most people don't see. And in a city like Auburn, many don't even realize it's happening. In Auburn, one small act of kindness is growing into something much bigger. The Auburn Sustenance Project began with a question. 'And a student asked, 'Hey, what happens during school breaks in Auburn city?'' said Dr. Caroline Payne-Purvis, faculty advisor for the Auburn Sustenance Project. 'We had just moved here. COVID was wrapping up sort of and so the question was becoming, what's happening normally? There was some, but very little. And so they decided they wanted to adopt a few families for that Thanksgiving.' What began as a class project feeding a few families over Thanksgiving has grown into a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit now serving hundreds of local children during all breaks from school, including holidays. 'We fed over 250 kids this time,' Payne-Purvis said. 'Our highest summer numbers are usually about 150.' Now, the need is greater than ever—and so is the call for volunteers. 'The project welcomes anyone,' said Katie White, a member of the Auburn Sustenance Project. 'You don't realize how impactful something can be. I feel like people don't think you can do it yourself, and people don't think that Auburn is in need. But the need is great. And the impact, organizers say, is real. 'From the high school senior who is taking care of her younger siblings now because she was able to get them out of foster care,' Payne-Purvis said, 'to the mom who was able to get out of, you know, rough situations because she was able to get food and be able to put the down payment on a deposit for a rent.' White added: 'Because I know we're not the final answer, but we might be like a little band aid to help them get through a hard time.' Their next food packing and distribution event is scheduled for June 18 at First Baptist Church of Auburn. Packing begins at 1 p.m. and distribution runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, and no sign-up is required. To donate, volunteer, or learn more, visit the Auburn Sustenance Project on Facebook. Monetary donations can also be made via Venmo @AuburnSustenanceProject. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
