DEER PARK, Texas – Residents in the Deer Park area are finally able to return home as progress is made on the pipeline fire that erupted after an SUV drove over a natural gas pipeline, causing an explosion.
The fire, which has been burning for over 48 hours, is now slowly diminishing, although officials warn it is not completely out.
CenterPoint Energy announced earlier Wednesday that it has successfully completed repairs to all distribution lines affected by the fire. Despite these advancements, investigators are unable to fully assess the cause of the explosion until the fire is completely extinguished.
The incident remains under investigation.
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Videos obtained by KPRC 2′s Corley Peel show the charred remains of the SUV believed to have triggered the explosion. The driver of the vehicle is still unaccounted for.
Evacuation impacts
Many residents were evacuated in the wake of the explosion, including Mariana Rodriguez and her son. They have been staying in a hotel since the pipeline erupted near their home. Rodriguez recounted the harrowing moments following the explosion.
“It felt like you were basically in a movie. I thought we were going to blow up because the house was shaking so bad,” she said.
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Firefighters acted quickly, shutting down the pipeline and spraying water on nearby homes to prevent further damage.
However, the heat from the explosion caused significant destruction, including melting parts of Rodriguez’s car within minutes.
Fire Containment and air quality
Deer Park Emergency Services Director Jaime Galloway provided an update on Wednesday, stating that the fire has been contained and is slowly burning off the remaining product in the pipeline. Galloway reassured residents that while the air quality isn’t completely clean, it is safe for residents to return.
However, Rodriguez remains concerned about the long-term safety of her home, particularly due to her son’s health issues.
“At this point, I do want a safe home for my child. I really want to move because it’s not safe,” she said.
Future Steps
There is no set timeline for when the fire will be fully extinguished, but Energy Transfer, the company responsible for the pipeline, is working with local landowners and the city of Deer Park to address damages and assist affected residents.
CONTINUOUS COVERAGE ON THE DEER PARK PIPELINE FIRE
As the fire continues to fizzle out, officials urge residents to stay updated on air quality and other potential hazards.