FERNDALE, Wash. -- The price of gasoline in our area could go up as a result of Friday's fire at the BP Cherry Point Refinery.

BP idled production at the refinery west of Ferndale after fire ripped through the facility's crude distillation unit. Federal and State investigators are working to determine the exact cause.

Ken Oplinger with the Bellingham/Whatcom chamber of commerce and industry says the fire could have broad impacts on the local business community...



According to BP's web site, the Cherry Point Refinery was capable of producing 2.5 million gallons of jet fuel, 3.5 million gallons of gasoline, and 2.2 million gallons of diesel every day.

It's the largest refinery in Washington, and the third-largest refinery on the west coast.