Chevron plant belches ‘excessive’ flame, smoke

“Excessive flaring” prompted larger-than-usual flames and smoke at Chevron’s Richmond refinery Tuesday morning, according to Richmond fire Chief Michael Banks.

No structure fire has been reported, he said. Chevron refinery personnel notified the fire department of the larger-than-normal flaring and smoke around 10:10 a.m. but said they did not require assistance from the department, Banks said.

Sightings of the excess flames and smoke from the refinery have also prompted several calls to the fire department this morning, he said. Chevron refinery representatives were not immediately available to comment on the incident.