Incident type
Refinery Incidents — What They Mean and What to Do
What refinery fires, explosions, and releases involve, the exposure concerns for nearby communities, and the steps affected people can take.
Refineries process flammable hydrocarbons at scale, so fires, explosions, and unplanned releases are a recurring risk for the communities around them. The hazard to nearby residents depends on what was involved, weather conditions, and proximity.
Common exposure concerns
Depending on the materials involved, smoke and releases can contain particulate matter and a range of chemical byproducts. Agencies often issue shelter-in-place or evacuation guidance and conduct air monitoring during and after an incident.
What to do
Follow official guidance first. During a shelter-in-place order, stay inside and limit outside air; act promptly on any evacuation order. Afterward, document what you experienced — see our guide on documenting your exposure after an incident. To check whether your area is affected, use the area-lookup tool.
Authoritative references
State environmental regulators (such as the TCEQ in Texas or the Louisiana DEQ), local fire departments, and the EPA publish guidance and monitoring data relevant to refinery incidents. We cite the specific sources for each event on its incident page.
Recent Refinery Incident incidents
Common questions
What should I do during a shelter-in-place order after a refinery incident?
Go inside, close windows and doors, turn off systems that pull in outside air, and monitor official channels until the order is lifted. Follow any evacuation order promptly.
How do I know if the air is safe?
After refinery incidents, operators and agencies such as the state environmental regulator and local fire departments typically conduct air monitoring and publish results. We cite the specific monitoring sources on each incident page.