Californians Brace for Gas Price Hikes After El Segundo Refinery Fire
Californians brace for potential gas price hikes following a refinery fire in El Segundo. The blaze has temporarily shut down one of the state's busiest refineries, threatening to disrupt the already tight fuel supply. Drivers are urged to shop around for better deals, particularly at independent stations.
The Chevron refinery fire, located 350 miles south of the Bay Area, is expected to impact local gas prices within days. As of Friday, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in San Francisco was $4.72, $4.63 in Oakland, and $4.55 in San Jose. The ADAC recommends looking for price differences, especially at independent or non-brand gas stations, which often offer lower prices than major brands. A similar refinery fire in Martinez earlier this year led to a 42-cent to 50-cent per gallon increase in Northern California. Full-time rideshare drivers like Sher Jamdar are particularly vulnerable to gas price increases, with even small increases affecting their daily earnings.
Californians may face rising fuel costs in the days and possibly weeks ahead due to uncertainty surrounding the El Segundo refinery's offline duration. The fire has temporarily knocked offline one of California's busiest refineries, disrupting the state's already limited fuel supply. Gas prices could increase sharply, not just in Southern California, but across the state due to the refinery disruption.
Drivers are advised to stay informed about price changes and consider switching to independent or off-brand gas stations to save money. The exact impact on gas prices remains uncertain, but Californians should prepare for potential increases in the coming days.
