Although the Chevron refinery fire that broke out in El Segundo is more than 350 miles away from the Bay Area, local drivers are likely to feel the impact at the gas pump within days, according to energy experts.

The fire temporarily knocked one of California's busiest refineries offline, disrupting the state's already limited fuel supply. Experts said that could lead to a sharp increase in gas prices, not just in Southern California, but across the state.

"This could be a real price shock to the California gasoline market. It would start in Southern California, but it would also impact Northern California," said Severin Borenstein, an energy professor and economist at UC Berkeley.

California drivers are particularly vulnerable to supply issues due to the state's requirement for a

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