A scheduled flare-off at a Chevron oil refinery in El Segundo, California, on September 17 sent up a dark plume of smoke that was visible for miles across Los Angeles.
The El Segundo Fire Department responded to the blaze in the morning and called for backup from the Manhattan Beach and Los Angeles fire departments but cancelled the request once they were told it was a scheduled, controlled burn, according to the Los Angeles Times. The flare-off sparked concern among residents, but fire officials said there were “no immediate threats to the community.” Credit: Amit Nayar via Storyful