Firefighters in Deer Park are working to control a massive pipeline fire that broke out on Monday morning, forcing local authorities to recommend evacuations.
BACKGROUND: Intense flames linger, prompt major evacuations during pipeline fire in Deer Park
The fire, which started just before 10 a.m. along Spencer Highway near La Porte, is producing thick black smoke, and emergency crews are advising residents in the area to stay away as the fire burns on.
The fire’s intensity and the difficulty in shutting it down have left many wondering why it is taking so long to extinguish. No injuries have been reported so far, but the situation remains hazardous.
Bob Cavnar, an oil and gas industry expert, provided valuable insight into the nature of the fire, explaining that this part of the region is crisscrossed with pipelines carrying various products.
“In this part of the world, there are pipelines everywhere,” Cavnar said.
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Based on the appearance of the smoke, Cavnar believes the fire is likely coming from a crude oil or product pipeline, not a natural gas line.
“Natural gas doesn’t tend to burn that dirty,” he added, pointing out that the heavy, black smoke indicates something more substantial is fueling the blaze.
One of the main challenges in controlling the fire appears to be shutting down the pipeline’s fuel source.
“They should be able to shut the pipeline off,” Cavnar explained. “I’m not sure why it’s been going this long unless they’re having a hard time getting to terminal valves.”
CONTINUOUS COVERAGE OF DEER PARK PIPELINE FIRE
He elaborated that every pipeline system has shut-off valves designed to stop the flow in case of a leak, but the length of time this fire has been burning suggests difficulties in accessing those valves.
Cavnar also explained the inherent dangers of a fire of this magnitude, particularly the extreme heat it generates.
“The good thing about there being a fire is you don’t have any liquid contaminating the ground, but it does burn super hot, and so there’s a lot of danger within hundreds of yards of this fire,” he said.
Photos and video footage from the scene show homes and yards near the fire starting to smoke from the intense heat.
“These fires are very intense,” he added, “and they actually pose a serious danger for quite a radius around this fire, so they need to clear the area.”
Another complicating factor is that traditional firefighting methods, such as using fire trucks and hoses, are ineffective against a blaze of this scale.
“You can’t really fight this fire with fire trucks and hoses and water because the fire’s just too intense. Once the fire gets started, you’ve really got to shut off the fuel to get it to stop,” Cavnar explained.
The fire’s cause has yet to be determined, but Cavnar suggested that it could be the result of a structural issue with the pipeline or an accidental puncture.
“It’s pretty rare that a pipeline just ruptures. There’s either some serious structural damage or somebody hit the line,” he said, adding that modern pipelines are typically monitored 24 hours a day, so any issue should have been detected immediately.
Authorities are working with state and federal agencies to investigate the incident and assess the damage.
“There will be state, local, and federal investigations as to what happened here,” Cavnar noted, emphasizing that the oil and gas industry thoroughly investigates these types of accidents, particularly when they occur in highly populated areas.
MORE: Shelter-in-place, evacuations issued for THESE areas due to pipeline fire in Deer Park
For now, emergency crews are focused on shutting off the fuel supply and ensuring the safety of the community. However, Cavnar cautioned that it may take time before the fire is fully extinguished.
“It could take some hours for it to burn all the way down. If it’s a large section of pipe, it could burn for quite a while after they get the pipeline shut in,” he said.