Massive fire and explosion at Texas Deer Park oil refinery
Fire at the Shell Plc (SHEL.L) chemical factory in Houston’s Deer Park, Texas, olefins section reportedly injures six persons.
According to first accounts, black smoke could be seen rising from the Olefins plant in the Houston suburb of Deer Park along Highway 225.
Deer Park ISD and city authorities reported that the wind was blowing away from the city, so there was no big danger of the fires spreading at the location, and that air monitoring is still happening. Officials said there was no impact on children’ early dismissal from school due to the event.
Several fire departments, including those from Deer Park, Houston, Harris County, and Mexico’s Pemex, as well as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, rushed to the scene. After the incident, the Harris County Pollution Control Services Department began conducting routine air quality checks.
Sources familiar with the operations of the nearby Pemex refinery (PEMX.UL) indicated that normal activities had resumed despite the fire at the chemical factory.
Fire personnel from Shell Chemicals reported through the community warning system that the blaze had been restricted to their portion of the factory, which is located on the same property as the Mexican oil company Pemex.
“The incident is being handled within the confines of this facility and there is no threat to the community from this incident,” the plant spokesperson wrote. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”