Torrance refinery shut down after unplanned flaring

TORRANCE, Calif. -- A power surge at a Torrance refinery forced officials to shut the plant down Monday morning.

An unplanned flaring event began at about 7:30 a.m. and lasted for nearly two hours, according to authorities.

Officials said the trouble was triggered by an explosion at a Southern California Edison transmission facility in Hawthorne.

MORE: ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance resumes operations 1 year after explosion

Del Amo Boulevard was closed between Maple Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard as a precaution, but has since reopened.

Mishaps at the plant have led to gas price increases in the past.

The plant, formerly known as the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery, changed ownership several months ago and became known as the Torrance Refining Co.

City News Service contributed to this report.