Blast hits Southern California refinery

TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) — An explosion occurred today at an Exxon Mobil refinery in Southern California, triggering a large smokestack flare to burn off flammable product, authorities said.

Roads were closed after the incident shortly before 9 a.m. and ash was in the air, Torrance police Sgt. Paul Kranke said.

The blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was most likely gasoline, Fire Department spokesman Steve Deuel told KCBS-TV.

A small ground fire was quickly extinguished and the facility's flare system was triggered for safety reasons, Deuel said.

There were two minor injuries and neither person was hospitalized, he said.

TV news helicopters showed a structure several stories tall with damage.