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Dozens Sickened By Fumes From Refinery Fire Near San Francisco

By Mark Memmott
Published August 7, 2012 at 7:20 AM CDT
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Smoke poured from the fire at a Chevron refinery in Richmond, Calif. Here, the plume rises behind Alcatraz Island in San Francisco.
Eric Risberg

"Shelter-in-place" warnings have been lifted for people living downwind from a Chevron refinery in Richmond, Calif., where a large fire that started Monday evening "sent thick black smoke wafting" over areas around San Francisco and Oakland, the Contra Costa Times reports.

According to the newspaper, authorities say the blaze is now contained.

Our colleagues at KQED say that "about three dozen people reportedly came to Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center complaining of respiratory problems. Contra Costa Health Services continues to advise those who have trouble breathing to seek medical attention."

KQED live-blogged the fire and its effects here.

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Mark Memmott
Mark Memmott is NPR's supervising senior editor for Standards & Practices. In that role, he's a resource for NPR's journalists – helping them raise the right questions as they do their work and uphold the organization's standards.
See stories by Mark Memmott
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