Local gas station owners worried about effects of refinery fire
BY REBECCA KHEEL Californian staff writer rkheel@bakersfield.com
Local gas station owners are keeping a worried eye on the price of gas as it's expected to increase because of Monday night's refinery fire in Richmond.
Gas prices have steadily been increasing for the past month. A month ago, the average price of a gallon of regular in Bakersfield was $3.785, according to AAA's daily fuel gauge report. A week ago, it was $3.793. On Monday, it was $3.809. And on Tuesday, it was $3.816.
Those increases were before the effects of a fire at an oil refinery. A fire broke out Monday night at the Richmond Chevron refinery, which produces 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day. Analysts say the fire will only make prices across California jump higher.
Bobby Jattana, co-owner of the ARCO at 2301 F St., said it's a shame prices are increasing again after consumers had a bit of relief when prices declined in June.
Past refinery fires have caused prices to jump 30 to 40 cents, Jattana said. He said that's hard on him as a business owner. But, he added, he's more worried about his customers.
"I'm worried about the people that have to suffer because they have a budget," he said.
Lee Ly, owner of the Mobil at 101 19th St., didn't know about the fire and the possibility of gas price increases before Tuesday afternoon.
If prices do go up as predicted, Ly said his business will probably see less people pumping gas.
"We're the ones who pay," he said. "But there's nothing we can do about it."
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