Weekend Wrap: What to Know About This Week's Fire at Valero's Benicia Refinery; Supervisor Discusses Future of MRC with Local Labor Leaders; MUSD Certificated Employees of the Year
Quick shelter-in-place alert from Benicia Fire Department contrasts with Contra Costa County's advisory during Feb. 1 fire at PBF Energy's Martinez refinery; plus, social media post of the week
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District responded to complaints from Martinez as well as Benicia related to the fire that broke out at the Valero refinery on Monday morning. The refinery is located on East Second Street in Benicia, not far from the Benicia-Martinez bridge.
The Benicia Fire Department issued a shelter-in-place advisory for Benicia residents during the fire, which emitted pollutants that exceeded air district standards, according to an incident report from BAAQMD. The fire burned from approximately 8:45 to 10:15 a.m.
BAAQMD said it received 10 complaints from the Benicia and Martinez communities.
“Early analysis shows elevated levels of several pollutants, including fine particulate matter, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and alkanes,” the Air District reported. “From available data, it appears that the smoke plume affected ground level areas in a narrow band southwest of the refinery as far south as Alameda.”
The Benicia Fire Department called the shelter-in-place shortly before 9 a.m. and lifted the advisory at 10:48 a.m. “If you can smell or see smoke in your area, close doors and windows and stay inside,” the Benicia Fire Department wrote at 8:56 a.m. on its Facebook page.
The prompt shelter-in-place advisory from this fire contrasted with the major Feb. 1 fire at PBF Energy’s Martinez refinery, when several hours passed before the Contra Costa Community Warning System elevated its alert to a shelter in place. The initial Level 2 alert during that fire only advised that those with respiratory sensitivity remain indoors.
BAAQMD also issued a health advisory Monday morning “for smoke in southern Solano, northern Contra Costa, and northwestern Alameda counties, specifically communities between I-80 and I-680 bridges (Martinez, Pacheco, Concord and Port Chicago), but with some impact possible southward to Oakland.” It advised residents to follow instructions from local health officials.
Contra Costa Health’s Hazardous Materials Program sent inspectors to Martinez to monitor air quality and potential impacts from the Valero fire. It posted on its Facebook page at 11 a.m. that it had not detected any air quality impacts in Contra Costa.
On Tuesday, BAAQMD issued three “notices of violation” to Valero from the fire and indicated that more may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
The fire came only weeks after Valero announced its intention to cease operations at the refinery by April of next year.
In other refinery news, Contra Costa Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston’s weekly newsletter reported that she “recently met with representatives from several key labor unions to discuss the future of the Martinez Refining Company and broader opportunities for collaboration in the months ahead.
“The primary focus of the conversation centered on updates related to the recent fire at the refinery, the ongoing investigation and the full facility audit. Union leaders emphasized the importance of timely communication and clarity around the refinery’s restart timeline, noting that the site’s rebuilding and return to operations is a top priority for their members and for the regional workforce.”
The meeting with local labor leaders also served as an opportunity “to connect on mutual goals and explore areas for future collaboration,” the newsletter reported.
Meanwhile, the activist group Healthy Martinez reported on Instagram that an Environmental Protection Agency grant to UCLA to research the health and air quality impacts of Bay Area refinery retirements and retrofits has been terminated.
“Very upsetting to learn that this study’s EPA research grant was terminated yesterday,” Health Martinez wrote in the Friday post. “They need $500,000 to continue. Any funding leads are much appreciated.”
MUSD certificated employees of the year
The Martinez Unified School District recently announced its certificated employees of the year. Donica Katayanagi, a transitional kindergarten teacher at Morello Park Elementary, was named the 2025 District Certificated Employee of the Year.
Other honorees:
Vincent Pitzulo, John Muir Elementary School
Sierra Badsky, John Swett Elementary School
Ashley Lutz, Las Juntas Elementary School
Kelsey Zahner, Martinez Junior High School
Kyle Bonderud, Alhambra High School
Kevin Harrison, Vicente Martinez High School
Samantha Hodge, Martinez Early Intervention Pre-School
Lillian Gallindo, Martinez Adult Education
Also at the April 28 meeting, the board approved a 1% salary increase, retroactive to July 1, for Superintendent Helen Rossi, matching the raise granted to all other MUSD staff. The increase brings Rossi’s salary to $270,537 annually as she prepares to retire next month after more than 30 years working for the district.
Martinez teachers union president Mary Rittenhouse spoke during public comment in support of the raise, a marked contrast from a year ago when the Martinez Education Association, during a bitter contract dispute with the district, targeted Rossi’s salary on social media, claiming she was overpaid. The comments marked the latest odd reversal for the union; after championing diversity and equity initiatives to combat racism in the midst of the 2020 Black Lives Matters protests, the union endorsed a regular donor to Donald Trump and his MAGA movement in the 2022 school board election. It is now supporting its former president, Brenda Leal, in the the special board seat election that terminated the appointment of Brittany Ayala, the daughter of Mexican immigrants and the only ethnic minority on the school board at the time of her removal in February. Ayala was appointed unanimously by the board to the vacant seat in January. Area 3 voters will be receiving ballots for the June 17 mail-only election in coming weeks.
Small Business Month promotion
As part of Small Business Month, downtown businesses are promoting a “Scan the Town” program. According to the city of Martinez newsletter:
This promotion encourages shopping and dining at downtown businesses for a chance to win weekly prizes. Every time you make a purchase at a participating Downtown Martinez business, you can enter to win weekly prizes— just by scanning a QR code! You can find Scan the Town signs and QR codes at all participating downtown merchants.
Weekly giveaways include gift cards and goodies from your favorite shops, all packed into an awesome local prize basket! Drawings are held every Monday: May 12th, May 19th, May 26th, and June 2nd.
Social media post of the week
Grace Presbyterian Church, located at 130 Muir Station Road, announced that its “furry landscapers are hard at work munching away on the weeds around our property to keep our grounds tidy and safe. Come say to hi to them while you can!”
