3 workers injured after 300-ton crane collapses at Exxon Mobil’s Torrance refinery

Three workers were injured Monday morning when a 300-ton crane collapsed at Exxon Mobil’s refinery in Torrance, fire officials said.

The contract workers suffered minor injuries during the collapse at the refinery in the 3700 block of West 190th Street, said Battalion Chief Bob Millea of the Torrance Fire Department. The workers were taken to an area clinic for evaluation.

Fire officials said the crane was moving debris at the refinery just after 9:30 a.m. when it suddenly collapsed, he said.

Water was doused onto the debris to stop any vapors from escaping, Millea said. The situation, he said, appeared to be “static.”

The extent of the damage to the refinery was not immediately known, he said.

Exxon Mobil spokesman Todd Spitler said the company was cooperating with fire officials and “determining the cause of the incident.”

A breakdown in some units triggered a flaring event at the refinery, he said. The refinery’s flare system is activated to safety stabilize operations during an unplanned interruption. The flaring event was not related to the collapse, Spitler said.

“Our main concern is for the safety of our employees, contractors and the community,” Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Gesuina Paras said. “There is no impact to the community.”

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