The greater Martinez area has been engulfed in a strong, foul odor following an incident at Martinez Refining Company, triggering a Level 2 health alert. Contra Costa Health upheld the advisory on Friday, warning residents, particularly those with respiratory issues, to remain indoors. The warning was eventually lifted, according to an X post from the agency.
A health alert for the greater Martinez area remains in effect Friday, December 15, due to a strong odor associated with flaring at Martinez Refining Company. The incident remains a Level 2 alert of the Community Warning System. Updates will be posted at https://t.co/TzHRoV2Pwy. pic.twitter.com/DsfAWOS5i6
— Contra Costa Health (@CoCoHealth) December 16, 2023
Resulting from an operational incident at 9:00 a.m. Friday, the refinery engaged in emergency flaring, reported Martinez Refining Company in a Facebook update. This process, which is a standard safety measure for handling excess combustible gases, led to the release of sulfur dioxide odors detectable outside the facility. The health department alerted people that most would not be affected but advised those experiencing irritation to rinse any affected areas with water.
Amidst the frenetic attempts to contain the operational mishap, the refinery has also conducted community monitoring to keep tabs on the odor complaints stemming from the flaring. They are currently in pursuit of identifying the cause of the odors within the refinery premises, per an initial Facebook post by the Martinez Refining Company.
By the evening, at 5:45 p.m., the acrid odors had come to a halt as the flaring intensity was diminished, and the health advisory put forth by Contra Costa Health was subsequently lifted. The company has indicated that intermittent flaring might persist through the weekend during the equipment reboot phase. Martinez Refining Company extends its apologies for the inconvenience, offering a hotline at 800-542-7113 for affected community members, according to a follow-up Facebook post. Residents can seek out additional information and stay informed about air quality through the company's fenceline air monitoring website.
