NBC: Two Dozen Valero Benicia refinery workers went to the emergency room with burns |

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The following excellent reporting comes from Benicia’s newest award-winning journalism duo, Monica Vaughan and Laura López González. Their online publication is The Benicia Bridge. Learn more and subscribe to the newsletter here. – Roger Straw

A plume of smoke and soot was released from a flare stack at the Valero Benicia Refinery on March 26, as seen here in a photo taken in the Hillcrest neighborhood by Benicia resident and small business owner, Jamie Jang.

March 26 refinery injuries being investigated…

By Monica Vaughan, Excerpt from the Benicia Bridge Newsletter, April 10, 2026

NBC reported that two dozen workers went to the emergency room with burns when black liquid rained down on them for about five minutes from the flare stack incident on March 26. Cal-OSHA is investigating. A quick review of OSHA records show this is the second investigation into worker safety opened at the facility this year. Last year, Valero racked up at least 11 violations amounting to $80,000 in penalties for worker safety violations at the Benicia refinery. Valero is contesting the findings.

Read more about the April 7 City Council meeting, here:

- Should Benicia invest to modernize the privately-owned port? Read here.
- Fixing the city’s broken solar panels is pricey. Losing the power costs more. Read here.
  […continued on The Benicia Bridge]

Story by Monica Vaughan of The Benicia Bridge.
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