Presbyterian Mission Agency fumes across the fence-line Archives

fumes across the fence-line

Investment group meets Detroit residents living in refinery’s toxic shadow

Posted July 3rd, 2019

The siren went off at 3 a.m. Oct. 29. “Anytime you hear the siren, that means there could be an explosion at the refinery,” said Emma Lockridge, whose home is just a few blocks away from the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Southwest Detroit. So, she called Marathon and asked what was going on. “Nothing,” was the reply, though she looked out of her window and saw, “red, billowing smoke.” Lockridge decided to jump into her car and document the event on video, bursts of fire and smoke flaring onto the screen.