Benicia port fire likely caused by mechanical issue

BENICIA – A fire at the Port of Benicia in April was likely caused by heat from a mechanical issue on a conveyer system that ignited petroleum coke, which is produced at the Valero Benicia refinery for export, Benicia fire officials said.

The fire department provided an update on the fire to the Benicia City Council on Tuesday which included the information about the likely cause of the fire. Fire officials had previously pointed to conveyers at the petcoke silos as the fire’s origin point in a news release last month but hadn't determined the specific cause.