Shelter-in-place order lifted for neighborhoods north of refinery as fire is finally brought under control Saturday evening; health advisory for sensitive groups lifted Tuesday afternoon
The fire has now been upgraded to a Level 3, according to email just sent out by Martinez Alerts, with the shelter-in-place order. This is the highest level of alert through the CWS, and the first Level 3 incident at a Martinez refinery in many years.
Why so long for the alarm to sound? Flames flaring for hours. Currently watching a humongous, billowing, cloud overtake the above the refinery and surrounding areas.
Must be because a shelter in place has just been called:
Feb. 1, 2025: At 4:49 p.m. a Shelter-in-place alert was declared for specific neighborhoods near Martinez Refining Company due to smoke from a fire at the facility. For more information, visit http://cwsalerts.com
We won’t know about which particulates were released in the air until Hazmat has completed their investigations. Here’s what we do know, the rain will wash some of the debris off but stay vigilant and DO NOT EAT YOUR WINTER VEGETABLES OR FRUIT ON THE TREES! They could have those chemicals on them. You should not put them in the green can. They may have to be put in special bags to be thrown out. Once the rain stops, clean your cars, your porches, patios, furniture, walkways, and plants, yard, off.
Thank you for the updated info but looking at the map, it appears my home on Brown St. is in the red zone still, so still sheltering.
The shelter-in-place has just been lifted. We're back to Level 2, which means that those with respiratory sensitivity may want to consider remaining indoors (I'm guessing by tomorrow morning, all advisories will be lifted as the fire appears pretty close to being extinguished). The health authorities and first responders didn't seem to have much information tonight about specific particulates. The shelter in place seemed to be about the level and density of smoke that had spread into the community. I'm sure more information will come out over next few days.
No I get that but I refreshed the map page, Craig, and it shows my area is still not cleared yet. Am I reading it wrong then? I see a large red area near and around my home.
Not sure, but once the incident itself was downgraded back to Level 2, that meant all shelter in place orders were lifted. Shelter in place is only effect when incidents are at Level 3. That is my understanding.
I know the CWS alert system is confusing to many and people are asking why the sirens didn't go off until several hours after the fire started. CWS protocol is that sirens notifying the public of a shelter in place are only sounded once an incident reaches Level 3. Saturday's incident was initially Level 2, which means no sirens, then was upgraded shortly before 5 p.m. to Level 3 given the amount of smoke that had been released.
Some may wonder why it wasn't initially categorized as Level 3. I'm sure there will be some discussion about that in coming days, but my guess is that when the fire first broke out, there was no way to know exactly how bad it was or how long it would last, so based on the information immediately available, Level 2 was the proper call. It's important to keep in mind that Level 3 events are exceedingly rare, which underscores just how significant this fire was. I believe the last Level 3 refinery event in the county was the 2012 Chevron fire.
Me too and In fact, I stopped having a vegetable garden after that incident. The only fruit tree I have now is a persimmon. Luckily, their season is over and the fruit was gone.
This is an awful way to live. When I sold my condo I bought a house with a yard, just so I could grow food. Now I look at my fruit trees (my lemon & kumquat trees are full right now!) and wonder what to do with them. Yes, will pick everything off and discard (NOT in green waste! Thank you!). But I look at my cherry, apple, apricot, peach and pear trees with much sadness.
Hopefully, county health officials will be able to provide some guidance on produce once air and soil test sampling results are available. And hopefully it will not take anywhere near as long as it did following the 2022 Thanksgiving release.
Was in downtown at level 2 and could barely breathe. My chest is tight. Eyes watering. Friend went to county hospital. They transferred her to John Muir Walnut Creek. I evacuated then.
The fire has now been upgraded to a Level 3, according to email just sent out by Martinez Alerts, with the shelter-in-place order. This is the highest level of alert through the CWS, and the first Level 3 incident at a Martinez refinery in many years.
I just got a ‘shelter in place’ advising to seal up all openings in your house voicemail from Contra Costa health.
Yes, CC Health has the shelter in place announcement at the top of its website: https://www.cchealth.org/
Not positive, but I believe this may be the first shelter-in-place for a refinery incident in the county since the Chevron fire in Richmond in 2012.
Why so long for the alarm to sound? Flames flaring for hours. Currently watching a humongous, billowing, cloud overtake the above the refinery and surrounding areas.
Must be because a shelter in place has just been called:
Feb. 1, 2025: At 4:49 p.m. a Shelter-in-place alert was declared for specific neighborhoods near Martinez Refining Company due to smoke from a fire at the facility. For more information, visit http://cwsalerts.com
See new update at top of post.
We won’t know about which particulates were released in the air until Hazmat has completed their investigations. Here’s what we do know, the rain will wash some of the debris off but stay vigilant and DO NOT EAT YOUR WINTER VEGETABLES OR FRUIT ON THE TREES! They could have those chemicals on them. You should not put them in the green can. They may have to be put in special bags to be thrown out. Once the rain stops, clean your cars, your porches, patios, furniture, walkways, and plants, yard, off.
Thank you for the updated info but looking at the map, it appears my home on Brown St. is in the red zone still, so still sheltering.
Hi Marlene,
The shelter-in-place has just been lifted. We're back to Level 2, which means that those with respiratory sensitivity may want to consider remaining indoors (I'm guessing by tomorrow morning, all advisories will be lifted as the fire appears pretty close to being extinguished). The health authorities and first responders didn't seem to have much information tonight about specific particulates. The shelter in place seemed to be about the level and density of smoke that had spread into the community. I'm sure more information will come out over next few days.
No I get that but I refreshed the map page, Craig, and it shows my area is still not cleared yet. Am I reading it wrong then? I see a large red area near and around my home.
Not sure, but once the incident itself was downgraded back to Level 2, that meant all shelter in place orders were lifted. Shelter in place is only effect when incidents are at Level 3. That is my understanding.
I know the CWS alert system is confusing to many and people are asking why the sirens didn't go off until several hours after the fire started. CWS protocol is that sirens notifying the public of a shelter in place are only sounded once an incident reaches Level 3. Saturday's incident was initially Level 2, which means no sirens, then was upgraded shortly before 5 p.m. to Level 3 given the amount of smoke that had been released.
Some may wonder why it wasn't initially categorized as Level 3. I'm sure there will be some discussion about that in coming days, but my guess is that when the fire first broke out, there was no way to know exactly how bad it was or how long it would last, so based on the information immediately available, Level 2 was the proper call. It's important to keep in mind that Level 3 events are exceedingly rare, which underscores just how significant this fire was. I believe the last Level 3 refinery event in the county was the 2012 Chevron fire.
Wow. Yes!! All great information. Dang. I have quite a garden, too!! About a dozen fruit trees and several winter lettuces.
Just like two years ago. I didn't eat anything from the garden after Thanksgiving '22 until Spring of '24.
Here we go again.
Me too and In fact, I stopped having a vegetable garden after that incident. The only fruit tree I have now is a persimmon. Luckily, their season is over and the fruit was gone.
This is an awful way to live. When I sold my condo I bought a house with a yard, just so I could grow food. Now I look at my fruit trees (my lemon & kumquat trees are full right now!) and wonder what to do with them. Yes, will pick everything off and discard (NOT in green waste! Thank you!). But I look at my cherry, apple, apricot, peach and pear trees with much sadness.
Hopefully, county health officials will be able to provide some guidance on produce once air and soil test sampling results are available. And hopefully it will not take anywhere near as long as it did following the 2022 Thanksgiving release.
Yes, hoping for quicker results, for sure.
I am feeling confident that we will indeed get results sooner than later.
Everyone has become well aware of our concerns over the last 2+ years. We simply can't keep wasting our food and worrying in the meantime.
Was in downtown at level 2 and could barely breathe. My chest is tight. Eyes watering. Friend went to county hospital. They transferred her to John Muir Walnut Creek. I evacuated then.
YIKES! Make certain your friend files a claim against the refinery, Sioux. I hope you are feeling better.
Thank you! I will tell my friend. We are both feeling much better now.
You should file a claim too. Do not hesitate to do so.
Thanks