September 16th 2024.
A terrifying incident occurred in Houston, Texas, as a massive pipeline fire erupted, sending a towering pillar of fire into the sky. First responders quickly sprang into action, evacuating the surrounding neighborhood and working tirelessly to prevent nearby homes from catching fire.
According to the operator of the 20-inch pipeline, Dallas-based Energy Transfer, the fire must burn itself out. While the flow has been shut off, local officials estimate that it could take several hours, or even until the next day, for the residual materials to completely burn off.
During an afternoon news conference, local authorities refrained from speculating about the cause of the fire, including the possibility that a burned car near the source of the flame may have played a role. Energy Transfer acknowledged reports that a car had struck some valve equipment, but did not provide further details.
The explosion, which occurred at 9:55am local time, rattled nearby homes and businesses in Deer Park and La Porte, about 25 miles southeast of downtown Houston. The plume of smoke could be seen from as far as 10 miles away. Thankfully, the only reported injury so far was a minor one sustained by a firefighter.
Geselle Melina Guerra, a resident within the evacuation area, recalled the terrifying moment when she and her boyfriend heard the explosion while having breakfast in their mobile home. She described seeing a bright orange light coming from their back door and her initial fear that an airplane had crashed nearby. They quickly got into their car and drove away, not knowing what was happening.
As law enforcement blocked off a wide area and nearby schools were told to shelter in place, the city of La Porte urged its residents to follow their directions and avoid the area. Energy Transfer also stated that air monitoring equipment was being set up in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, at San Jacinto College, which had closed its campus after the explosion, people gathered, including Evan Wyman, who had been relieved to learn that her dog, Baxter, had been rescued from her home in the evacuated neighborhood.
For residents of Houston, explosions and fires are unfortunately not uncommon, as the city is known as the nation's petrochemical heartland. A cluster of refineries, plants, and pipelines run through the city, raising concerns about the industry's safety measures and the potential environmental impacts.
Video footage from KTRK showed a park near the fire that had been damaged, with firefighters working to put out the flames and protect nearby homes. By noon, it was apparent that at least a couple of homes had caught fire, adding to the already chaotic scene. The smoke billowing from their roofs was a stark reminder of the danger still present.
One resident, Sanchez, who has lived in the area for 10 years, had never experienced an explosion before. He and his family quickly evacuated, driving as far away as possible to a gas station near his college.
As the situation unfolds, officials have ordered residents in the Brookglen neighborhood to evacuate and are urging everyone to avoid the area and follow law enforcement's directions. The fire has also caused a power outage, leaving several thousand customers without electricity in Harris County.
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