On August 6, 2012, a large fire erupted at the refinery at about 6:15 PM and reported to be contained at 10:40 PM.
Flames were seen issuing from at least two of the refinery's towers.
Contra Costa Health Services responded by notifying residents shelter in place.
 BART shut down local service.
The shelter-in-place order was lifted at 11:15 PM.
Initial reports estimated that 11,000 people sought treatment at area hospitals, and later reports placed the number above 15,000 people.

Six employees that were present at the scene of the fire suffered varying degrees of injury.
Employee 1 received a minor burn to a small area on the left ear, Employee 2 suffered a small burn to the left wrist, Employee 3 suffered from abdominal discomfort.
Employee 4's respiratory pathway was irritated, Employee 5 suffered blistering to the right leg from boot wear, and Employee 6 had a bruised finger.
All of the injured employees were given on site medical treatment by the Chevron Fire Department and other on site medical staff.

A refinery spokeswoman stated that the fire erupted in the number 4 crude distillation unit, or CDU.
Just before 6:30 p.m., an inspection crew discovered that there was a diesel leak in a line in the CDU—and that the leak was growing.
 The crew evacuated the area just before the diesel ignited, said Nigel Hearne, manager of the refinery.

Three refinery workers were given first aid at the refinery.
On April 15, 2013, the US Chemical Safety Board released their preliminary report citing Chevron for a chronic failure to replace aging equipment and called for an overhaul of regulatory oversight of the industry to prevent such accidents from happening again.
In January 2015, the CSB released their final investigation report.

Analysts predicted that the fire would cause an increase in gasoline prices in the western United States.
A Chevron spokesperson later said that the fire was one factor among others, including the price of crude oil, that influenced prices.
However, data collected by the California Energy Commission showed that increased production at other refineries more than made up for the Richmond loss, with 461,000 gallons of crude oil added to state refinery production during the week of August 3 through August 10, 2012.

In 2013, the company pleaded no contest to six charges in connection with the fire, and agreed to pay $2 million in fines and restitution.
On the first anniversary of the fire, 210 people were arrested while marching to protest safety issues at the refinery.

Around the same time the settlement was announced, the Richmond city council voted to file suit against Chevron.
The reasons for the suit included "a continuation of years of neglect, lax oversight and corporate indifference to necessary safety inspection and repairs."
On August 6, 2012, a large fire erupted at the refinery at about 6:15 PM and reported to be contained at 10:40 PM. Flames were seen issuing from at least two of the refinery's towers. Contra Costa Health Services responded by notifying residents shelter in place.  BART shut down local service. The shelter-in-place order was lifted at 11:15 PM. Initial reports estimated that 11,000 people sought treatment at area hospitals, and later reports placed the number above 15,000 people.
Six employees that were present at the scene of the fire suffered varying degrees of injury. Employee 1 received a minor burn to a small area on the left ear, Employee 2 suffered a small burn to the left wrist, Employee 3 suffered from abdominal discomfort. Employee 4's respiratory pathway was irritated, Employee 5 suffered blistering to the right leg from boot wear, and Employee 6 had a bruised finger. All of the injured employees were given on site medical treatment by the Chevron Fire Department and other on site medical staff.
A refinery spokeswoman stated that the fire erupted in the number 4 crude distillation unit, or CDU. Just before 6:30 p.m., an inspection crew discovered that there was a diesel leak in a line in the CDU—and that the leak was growing.  The crew evacuated the area just before the diesel ignited, said Nigel Hearne, manager of the refinery.
Three refinery workers were given first aid at the refinery. On April 15, 2013, the US Chemical Safety Board released their preliminary report citing Chevron for a chronic failure to replace aging equipment and called for an overhaul of regulatory oversight of the industry to prevent such accidents from happening again. In January 2015, the CSB released their final investigation report.
Analysts predicted that the fire would cause an increase in gasoline prices in the western United States. A Chevron spokesperson later said that the fire was one factor among others, including the price of crude oil, that influenced prices. However, data collected by the California Energy Commission showed that increased production at other refineries more than made up for the Richmond loss, with 461,000 gallons of crude oil added to state refinery production during the week of August 3 through August 10, 2012.
In 2013, the company pleaded no contest to six charges in connection with the fire, and agreed to pay $2 million in fines and restitution. On the first anniversary of the fire, 210 people were arrested while marching to protest safety issues at the refinery.
Around the same time the settlement was announced, the Richmond city council voted to file suit against Chevron. The reasons for the suit included "a continuation of years of neglect, lax oversight and corporate indifference to necessary safety inspection and repairs."
Chevron Richmond Refinery