Benicia Oil Refinery Caught Fire and Blazed for a Couple Hours Monday Morning

A fire erupted at the Valero Refinery in Benicia around 8:45 am on Monday, releasing hazardous emissions and prompting local authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order. Residents were instructed to keep their windows closed and refrain from calling emergency services unless absolutely necessary. HazMat teams from Contra Costa Health were deployed to monitor air quality, as plumes of black smoke became visible for miles. A county-wide alert system failed to activate until 45 minutes after the fire began, leaving many residents unaware of the impending danger. Fortunately, the shelter-in-place orders were lifted by 10:40 am after air quality monitoring revealed no health hazards beyond particulate matter.

The Benicia Fire Department confirmed that air quality levels were below health hazard thresholds. The refinery has a controversial history of emitting hazardous chemicals and is slated for closure in 2026 due to substantial fines from the state. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with no injuries reported.