Firefighters are battling a massive pipeline fire in suburban Houston on Monday. The fire sparked grass fires and burned power poles while threatening several homes. A giant plume of fire shot high into the air, forcing people in the surrounding neighborhood to evacuate.
The fire began at 9:55 a.m. in La Porte, located about 25 miles southeast of Houston. That’s where a flaming 20-inch pipeline carrying liquified natural gas caught fire and now must burn itself out, operator Energy Transfer says.
Video images showed a damaged park near the fire and firefighters pouring water on adjacent homes. Several businesses, including a Walmart, are also nearby.
Lee Woodward, a La Porte city spokesperson, said in an email that officials have ordered residents in the Brookglen neighborhood near the fire to evacuate.
“Please avoid the area and follow law enforcement directions. Further details will be released as available,” Woodward said.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
KPRC-TV
There are several power lines near the fire. The website PowerOutage.us says that there are nearly 4,700 customers without power in Harris County.
❗️Massive explosion has occurred at a chemical plant in La Porte, in the US state of Texas
The local fire department recommends evacuation after gas line explosion. pic.twitter.com/0kCg06bA9T
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 16, 2024
