DEER PARK, TX – Following a massive pipeline explosion that had a southeast Houston suburb covered in flames on Monday, authorities reported significant progress in reducing the fire by Tuesday. The incident was triggered by an out-of-control vehicle crashing through a fence and striking an above-ground valve.
While investigations are ongoing, preliminary reports suggest that the incident was not a coordinated or “terrorist” assault. The authorities believe it to be an isolated event. The probe also includes determining more about the driver whose vehicle was consumed by the explosion, causing a scorching fire that severed nearby power transmission lines and ignited several homes.
Though the evacuation area comprised almost 1,000 homes, La Porte city officials have slightly reduced the evacuation zone. The affected residents’ number remains undisclosed.
Although the Energy Transfer-operated, Dallas-based pipeline’s natural gas liquid flow was interrupted, firefighters had to stand by and douse neighboring residences as ample gas remained within the pipeline’s miles of tubes. Deer Park city’s official statement conveyed that the company anticipates that the fires will extinguish themselves by the end of Tuesday.
In the aftermath of the explosion at a Deer Park valve station, which also shook adjacent homes and businesses, initial responses from firefighters were on Monday morning itself. The official confirmation suggested that an SUV triggered the valve explosion after barging through a fence on the Walmart parking lot’s side.
Kaitlyn Bluejacket, a Deer Park spokesperson, highlighted that the explosion injured four individuals. However, the severity of the injuries wasn’t mentioned.
The area, home to several refineries, plants, and pipelines, frequently witnesses explosions and fires in the area. Despite earlier sightings of the fire and smoke plume from a 10-mile distance, ongoing air monitoring from both Energy Transfer and Harris County Pollution Control has not identified any health-related issues as a result.