At least one storage tank appears to be completely destroyed and another is in flames in footage seen on local media. Contra Costa County health officials warned locals to "shelter in place" and close their windows.
The Rodeo refinery has 24 tanks full of extremely flammable fuels including gasoline and ethanol as well as pipeline connections to other refineries, according to KTVU.
Fire crews and police are on site responding to the blaze. At least two CalFire aircraft also responded to the blaze. There were no immediate reports of injuries at the site.
Smoke from the massive fire could be seen from as far away as San Francisco. The cause of the inferno is not yet known.
Several westbound lanes of Interstate 80 between Crockett and Rodeo were closed as a precaution, the county fire department tweeted.
Two other refineries in the vicinity were reported flaring following Monday night's 4.5 magnitude earthquake near Pleasant Hill, but neither reached the level of an emergency, local media reported.
Comment: A seismic cause then? Pleasant Hill is just a few miles inland from the location of this chemical plant. Only thing is; the fire(s) broke out at lunchtime, and this quake didn't occur till the evening...
Learn to grow your own food, and find local sources of meat and vegetables. That's where this is going, so best to get ready for it. Better that than leaving yourself with no options than to rely on the government for your sustenance - because that will surely come with conditions, such as: take this RFID chip in your arm; get these vaccinations; give up your guns etc...