Officials reveal mistakes that impacted Martinez refinery fire response

"New details emerged this week about the massive February fire that erupted at the Martinez Refinery Company and released more than 7,000 gallons of hydrocarbon materials into the air, as officials revealed that oil crews had been using incompatible radio systems that prevented immediate contact with local public safety agencies. While county firefighters arrived on the scene 14 minutes after being notified of a fire at MRC, crews were stalled outside, unable to contact the refinery operators on site - a communication gap that delayed the establishment of a unified command center by nearly two hours."

"Instead of switching channels on one device, MRC employees have to carry two radios in order to communicate with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and dozens of other agencies tuned to the East Bay Regional Interoperable Communications System's frequencies, according to ConFire Deputy Chief Aaron McAlister."

"Internal breakdowns like those add to the chronic terror neighbors and businesses face downwind of the refinery, said Heidi Taylor, who lives along its fence line in downtown Martinez. She said she's seen level-one alerts and "enormous" flaring almost every day for the past month, which was confirmed by Contra Costa County officials."

""It's the public that suffers as a result of MRC's incompetence, or what I would argue is gross negligence," Taylor said Tuesday at a Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meeting."

An incompatible radio-system problem at Martinez Refinery Company prevented immediate contact between refinery crews and local public safety agencies during a February fire that released more than 7,000 gallons of hydrocarbon materials. County firefighters arrived 14 minutes after notification but were stalled outside, delaying a unified command center by nearly two hours. MRC employees must carry two radios to reach East Bay Regional Interoperable Communications System frequencies, and the refinery has few EBRICS devices; the internal fire brigade lacked access. Neighbors report frequent level-one alerts and daily "enormous" flaring, and residents blame operational failures for public harm.

Read at The Mercury News