Authorities said a vehicle crashed through a fence and hit a valve at ground level on Monday, causing a massive explosion in the pipeline and sending a pillar of flames into the sky, was not related to terrorism.
Deer Park officials said police and local FBI agents investigated but found no preliminary reports suggesting a coordinated or “terrorist” attack on the liquefied natural gas pipeline and that “this appears to be an isolated incident.”
Shelley and Chad Richard told KTRK-TV that the SUV caught their attention because it was “moving very slowly,” but then “suddenly changed direction.”
Shelley Richard told the station the vehicle went through a fence and hit a valve, causing an “explosive sound” and “fire everywhere.”
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A pipeline transporting natural gas liquids burst into flames near LaPorte, Texas, on Monday. (AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi)
Chad Richard told KTRK he initially thought the driver might have had a medical emergency because the SUV “wasn’t actually going that fast” before it “drifted” and went over the fence.
“It wasn’t going very fast so I thought he’d had a heart attack or something and just drifted over there,” Chad Richard told KTRK, “but once he got over the fence, it just started picking up speed.”
A pipeline explosion sparked a massive fire near LaPorte, Texas, on Monday, forcing police to close a highway. (AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi)
The explosion destroyed vehicles and sparked widespread flames, downing nearby power lines and igniting homes far away. About 1,000 homes were evacuated and residents sought refuge in schools.
Police did not immediately provide information on the driver’s identity or condition.
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The tower of flames lit up the sky for more than 12 hours, and Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr. said the intense heat prompted ladder trucks to drop fire from the air on homes within the area.
“Despite the large amount of water we are pouring, many of the adjacent homes are still burning,” Mouton said at an afternoon news conference.
A massive pipeline fire broke out near LaPorte, Texas, on Monday. (AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi)
The city of Deer Park said in a statement Tuesday morning that the gushing flames had subsided but the fire continued to burn.
“Rescue services worked throughout the night and progress has been made in extinguishing the fire, which has been significantly reduced in size,” the statement said.
The Harris County Pollution Control Agency said in a statement Monday afternoon that no volatile organic compounds were detected. The smoke emitted moderate levels of particulate matter that pose no immediate danger to healthy people, but “sensitive residents may want to take precautions,” according to the statement. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said it was also monitoring the air.
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The pipeline’s owner, Dallas-based Energy Transfer Co., said it was installing air monitoring equipment near the flames and plume of smoke that was at one point visible for at least 10 miles away.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
