INDUSTRY – A fire and several explosions erupted Thursday at a refinery, but no injuries were reported, fire officials said.
The fire and several blasts were reported at 10:47 a.m. in an exterior cooling unit and a large hopper at the Seventh Avenue refinery, Los Angeles County fire Inspector Sam Padilla said.
Workers left the refinery and 50 firefighters controlled the blaze in about an hour, Padilla said.
A hazardous materials team was sent to the site but no toxic chemicals were released, he said.
Initial reports indicated the refinery handled plastics, Padilla said.
However, records for the address indicate it is the Quemetco Inc. refinery and that it smelts used lead batteries and other metal. Calls to the business did not go through.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
