Benicia Fire Chief Josh Chadwick released a statement today on the preliminary findings of the investigation into the cause of the Benicia Port Fire.
Preliminary findings indicate that the origin of the fire was on or near the lower portion of the coke conveyor belt system near the base of the silos, and the fire appears to have been unintentional in nature.
Baykeeper executive director Sejal Choksi-Chugh issued the following response:
"Fossil fuels are dirty and dangerous every step of the way—from drilling, to processing and transporting, to burning for fuel. The fire at the Port of Benicia could have been much, much worse, and we're thankful that no lives were lost in the incident. Baykeeper will continue to monitor the site and engage with the operators, and if there are plans to reopen the port, we will advocate for stronger measures to protect the health of the Bay and its communities from the potential risks posed by dirty fuels like petcoke."