ANACORTES, Wash. - KING 5 received a number of calls from viewers Wednesday night saying they can see flames shooting from the Tesoro refinery on March Point Road.

Several residents and workers said these flames were very unusual.

However, a Tesoro spokesperson said the fire was just a flare, which is part of normal operations and burns off refinery waste gasses.

However, a 911 call was made from the plant after some materials leaked out of a processing unit. It was not immediately clear what leaked or if there was a connection to the flames.

Three contract workers were injured in the leak and transported to an area hospital where they were treated for exposure.

KING

Several residents and workers said these flames were very unusual.

Tesoro technical manager Gary Miller said the leak occurred about 8:15 p.m. during routine maintenance. He said a small amount of naptha, which is a component of gasoline, leaked but was quickly contained, and the unit was safely shut down.

There was no immediate word on the seriousness of their injuries.

A company spokesperson said the leak was not connected to the flames and it has been contained.

Miller said observers who reported flames at the refinery were seeing a ground flare that burns excess gases during times when the unit is shut down.