Update: 3 injured in apparent explosion at BP Cherry Point refinery near Ferndale
Three people were injured in an apparent explosion at BP Cherry Point refinery Saturday morning.
Reports on social media described what sounded like an explosion at the facility west of Ferndale about 10:25 a.m. Firefighters were dispatched to the refinery on Grandview Road, according to the Pulse Point emergency services app.
BP spokesman Cesar Rodriguez said in an emailed statement that an incident was reported, but he did not say what had happened. Rodriguez said laye Saturday that the injured people had been treated and released from a local hospital.
“The situation is contained and does not pose a risk to nearby communities. We can confirm three people have been injured and have been transported to a local hospital. All other staff is accounted for. Our top priority is the safety of our employees, contractors, and the community. We will share additional information as it becomes available,” Rodriguez said.
Whatcom County Fire District 7, whose service area includes the Cherry Point industrial area, said on its social media its firefighters provided “medical transport of three patients to a local hospital” with at least one seriously injured patient and two patients with lesser injuries.
“District 7 was not involved in mitigation or operational activities related to the incident. The incident was contained, and there is no reported risk to the surrounding community,” a Facebook post said.
Recent incidents at the two Cherry Point oil refineries include a February 2012 fire that caused one injury at BP, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In December 2020 near Custer, seven cars derailed in a train hauling more than 100 tankers of crude oil to the Phillips 66 Refinery. Five cars caught fire, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.
This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Update: 3 injured in apparent explosion at BP Cherry Point refinery near Ferndale."
