Overview

• A fire broke out at the Valero oil refinery in Benicia, California, on Monday morning, with flames first reported around 9 a.m.
• Thick plumes of black smoke from the fire are visible from nearby highways, including Interstate 680 and Highway 4.
• The Benicia Fire Department is actively responding to the incident and has urged residents to close windows and remain indoors if smoke is detected.
• The refinery, which processes 145,000 barrels of crude oil daily, is already slated for closure by April 2026 following regulatory fines and financial challenges.
• Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, with no injuries or casualties reported as of now.