Scherpa Fire Edges Closer to ExxonMobil Refinery

The Scherpa Fire, which has scorched 1,200 acres of Gaviota terrain and remains zero percent contained, is once again creeping toward ExxonMobil’s Las Flores Canyon oil refinery. Wednesday evening the fire “bumped” the facility but was kept at bay by lines of engine teams, officials said. The flames then retreated back up the hill, but have been pushed down once more by evening winds. Calls to ExxonMobil’s media relations representatives were not immediately returned. Reuters reported Wednesday that the company had evacuated non-essential personnel from the refinery. Remaining employees on site “are involved in various fire-protection activities and the company is monitoring the situation.”