On the morning of February 1, two workers at the Martinez petroleum refinery encountered leaking hydrocarbon material during maintenance. The factory practice of burning excess petroleum lit the material on fire immediately, starting a blaze which sent black plumes of smoke into the suburbs surrounding the refinery. This caused a city-wide shelter in place and injured six people.
While the fire was quickly extinguished by 11 a.m., the smoke remained. “I think it’s a constant issue with the refinery that people are concerned about — what’s escaping the stacks?” Dawn Elton, a local ACE Hardware store manager, said to KQED. City officials tried to ease concern, telling residents that the smoke blew away from the most populated areas. However, many residents found the smoke residue lingered near them throughout the day. Among the byproducts of the smoke were benzene, a carcinogen, and sulfur dioxide, which causes respiratory issues. While a Contra Costa Health report briefly proposed evaluating soil and water damage, the did not follow up on community health.
This isn't the first time residents have faced issues with the Martinez refinery. It released particulate matter into the city on two previous occasions since 2020, when the factory changed ownership. “It just seems like this kind of stuff is happening more and more, which is really scary,” said resident Samantha Viano to KQED.
Compared to other power plant disasters, the Martinez fire was small. The massive Richmond Chevron refinery ignited in 2012, forcing over 15,000 people to seek medical attention. And in January this year, the Moss Landing Power Plant caught fire, causing a large evacuation. California has the third-most refineries in the United States, and these fires are a frequent issue for the surrounding communities. Residents are concerned that their health is not prioritized enough, as refinery fires can be very dangerous.
Not all communities are affected equally by refineries. Oil facilities are often built near ethnic minorities, reflected in the demographics of Martinez and Richmond. During the Chevron refinery fire, 97% of the surrounding population were people of color. A study from Climate Central shows that marginalized groups in Richmond had higher rates of asthma due to being closer to refineries. And the effects cannot be ignored – factory fires inflate housing and insurance prices, amplifying the remnants of racist practices like redlining. Proximity to refineries is correlated with increased cancer and heart disease rates – diseases that require costly, long-term treatment. The income ranges of those living near refineries is typically lower, and the financial strain of dealing with diseases perpetuates low-income status.
The existence of these factories in the first place has devastating effects on the environment. Burning excess petroleum in refineries adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, heating our environment, causing droughts, drying out trees, and making wildfires more likely. Under President Trump’s administration, wildfire and federal aid to California have become a tense topic. Trump threatened to cut off Los Angeles wildfire aid unless water was diverted from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to agricultural businesses in the south, destroying native species. This would also fail to assist the people of LA after the blazes that destroyed over 35,000 acres. If wildfire aid is decreased, Martinez and Richmond will have less community health support and protection if a fire spreads outside a refinery. Even now, purifiers given to victims of the Martinez fire have been funded by nonprofits. The disregard for the climate is apparent from Trump withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement to making jokes about “oceanfront property” from sea level rise. Trump has also declared an “energy emergency,” a green light for oil and gas companies like the Martinez refinery to increase emissions.
People are not letting companies silence their voices, combatting oppressive policy individually and through the state. When Trump in his first term tried to move forward with his delta water relocation plan, California, backed by climate-change organizations, sued Trump and won. After the Chevron refinery fire, the city of Richmond sued Chevron for $5 million in damages.
Recent policy has also created opportunities for action from the people. The recently approved Proposition 4 sets aside $10 billion for California wildfire aid and cleaner air measures. Currently, the California Senate is voting on SB 222, a bill that will allow residents to sue fossil fuel companies for damages related to climate change. This could help shift rising insurance costs away from victims and hold companies accountable for health and economic damages.
While many actions seem limited to policy and voting, there are many opportunities for youth to get involved in promoting climate-friendly policy. Organizations like Ten Strands and Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action operate across California, holding refineries accountable through positive action. As for Martinez, citizens are not going to watch their community crumble. “This is not acceptable, and I am working to get answers for our community,” district board member Shanelle Scales-Preston said to CBS.
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