In some areas, the cost of a gallon of regular gasoline is well under $5, but during a protest outside of the Phillips 66 refinery, some people called out big oil companies over alleged "price gouging" and reported record-high profits.
Residents are angry over a possible decision to allow ExxonMobil to exceed pollution limits at its Torrance refinery.
Hazmat crews investigated a massive flaring at a refinery in Torrance that was caused by a Mylar balloon, officials said.
Federal investigators said a failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the 2015 ExxonMobil oil refinery explosion in Torrance.