DEER PARK, Texas – It’s been over 48 hours and the fire at a Deer Park pipeline is still shooting out as we enter the third day since we first brought you this report.
INITIAL REPORT: Major evacuations after massive pipeline fire in Deer Park; officials say fire started by vehicle striking valve
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While progress is being made, Deer Park officials admit it would take a while for the flames to burn out after a pipeline burst when an SUV driver went through a fence and crashed into the valve Monday morning.
Families told KPRC 2 they heard a loud boom and felt their homes shake after investigators said someone in an SUV crashed through a fence and hit an above-ground valve.
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Officials estimate five homes were damaged and four people were hurt.
CONTINUOUS COVERAGE ON THE DEER PARK PIPELINE FIRE
It’s still unclear if the driver’s crash was intentional or if the driver survived. City leaders say they won’t be able to get that information until the fire is completely out.
Officials said residents of Deer Park and La Porte will be permitted to return to their homes following the recent evacuation. The pipeline’s owner, Energy Transfer, was paying for those residents to stay at hotels.
Spencer Highway will remain closed between Luella Avenue and East/Canada Boulevard during this time. It is strongly recommended that individuals avoid the area until the Deer Park Police Department has concluded its on-scene investigation.
The Walmart nearby is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. on Thursday, but all entrances and exits off of Spencer Highway will be closed.
Crews are working diligently to repair essential infrastructure with an expected completion of 6 p.m. Thursday. Once these repairs are finalized, the fire is anticipated to be extinguished within two to three hours.
Air quality monitoring is ongoing and conducted by Harris County Pollution Control, Harris County HAZMAT, and a third-party contractor. Harris County Public Health is continuously reviewing the data to assess any potential impacts on air quality in the community.
For those in need of assistance, Energy Transfer has set up a helpline for people impacted and are urged to call (855) 430-4491.
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