DEER PARK, Texas – Why is the fire still burning at the Deer Park pipeline days later? That’s a question Harris County Lina Hidalgo had for Energy Transfer, the oil and gas company who owns the pipeline.
Hidalgo walked around the area with Deer Park officials to assess the damage left behind from the pipeline explosion and get answers as to why it is taking so long for the fire the burn out.
Officials explained to Hidalgo the reason why the timeline keeps changing and why fire experts can’t give an exact estimate.
“As far as the gases, the way they explained it to me is, like, when you put gas in your car. So, there’s the liquid gasoline and then there are the gases you can smell coming out,” Hidalgo explained. “So, these materials that flow through the pipeline expand a lot more than gasoline, and those are the gases that have been pouring out of where the valve use to be and igniting.”
The judge stated that since the fire is still burning, experts have taken the pressure in the pipeline down to zero and what’s left burning is just residual vapors, which is a part of the liquids.
Officials are planning to remove the residual liquids by installing stopples about a mile and a quarter a part to create a vacuum to get the rest of those liquids out. Once that is complete, officials will go where the valve use to be and cover it up by capping it and welding it down.
Hidalgo said the challenge they are facing is “what can go wrong?”
Officials said they haven’t seen exactly how the valve looks when there is no fire, and capping it down will depend on how large the opening is.
Officials are also being cautious about whatever material surrounding the pipeline could be flammable, which would put first responders in danger. For that reason, Hidalgo said the hazmat teams are still at the scene and will be out there until the incident is completely over and scene has been cleared.
After the valve has been capped and liquids have been vacuumed, maintenance will be the only issue.
Residents were able to go back home on Wednesday, but eight residents are still left without power. Harris County is working with CenterPoint Energy on why they are still out and how quickly they can get power back on.
The next thing that will be addressed in the county will be how companies will protect its pipelines in the future.
“One of the things we want to look at going forward is what can we do so that elsewhere in the county these pipelines and valves that are above the Earth can be protected by concrete, as opposed to simply these fences that obviously we saw that can be rammed through,” Hidalgo said.
On Thursday, officials confirmed that human remains were found inside a white SUV at the center of the pipeline explosion and the case has now developed into a criminal investigation.
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That car was towed from the site this morning and handed over to investigators at a nearby tent with a Mobile Command team set up. Investigators had to wait until the fire dissipated and the area was cool enough to get the car out.
The next step is to work through the identification process, which investigators said could take some time.
With streets in the area also opening again, people are getting a much closer look at some of the damage, including Judge Hidalgo.