Black smoke, soot seen at Valero refinery in Benicia

Refinery prepares to shut down next month with flaring and chemical cleanout

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:20am

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Black smoke and soot were seen shooting out and raining down from the Valero refinery in Benicia, California on Thursday morning. The refinery has been conducting flaring and chemical cleanouts as it prepares to shut down operations next month.

Why it matters

The Valero refinery is a major employer and economic driver in Benicia, so its upcoming closure will have significant impacts on the local community. The black smoke and soot incident has raised concerns about air quality and safety during the refinery's wind-down process.

The details

The refinery has been conducting flaring and chemical cleanouts as part of its preparations to permanently shut down operations next month. While the fire department stated that Valero has isolated the problem, the smoke and soot caused a strong odor throughout the city.

  • The incident occurred on Thursday, March 27, 2026.
  • The refinery is expected to fully shut down operations in the coming weeks.

The players

Valero

A major oil refining company that operates the refinery in Benicia.

Benicia Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to the incident and stated that Valero has isolated the problem.

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What they’re saying

“The fire department said Valero has isolated the problem and the odor should clear out.”

— Benicia Fire Department

What’s next

More flaring is expected for several weeks as the refinery winds down its operations before the final shutdown.

The takeaway

The incident at the Valero refinery highlights the potential environmental and community impacts as the facility prepares to permanently close, raising concerns about air quality and safety during the wind-down process.