A Texas petrochemical facility fire has been extinguished, four days after it started

A Texas petrochemical facility fire has been extinguished, four days after it started

A fire burning into its fourth day at a petrochemical facility in a suburban Houston area has been extinguished, officials say.
“As of 3am today (Wednesday), the firefighting crews on the scene of the ITC Tank Farm Fire are reporting that all tank fires have been extinguished,” Intercontinental Terminals Company said in a news release. “Crews continue to spray foam and water on the tanks to facilitate cooling and prevent reigniting of the remaining material.”
The fire began in a single tank at ITC, a storage facility in Deer Park, Texas, on Sunday afternoon and quickly spread to a second tank, the company said.
A specialty firefighting team from Louisiana was brought in to battle the fire, and used foam and water, ITC officials said.
By late Tuesday, four tanks remained burning at the ITC facility – which was a reduction from seven earlier that day, according to Harris County authorities.
The battle had by then moved from a defensive mode to an offensive one, according to Ray Russell, a spokesman with Channel Industries Mutual Aid, a non-profit that handles firefighting, rescue and hazardous material in the local refining and petrochemical industry.
No serious injuries have been reported and the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Schools, businesses closed
As the fire burned, sending towering black clouds and a fireball into the sky late Tuesday, neighbours were worried about the heavy, dark smoke even as authorities sought to assure them the air quality remained in the good to moderate range.
Before the fire was extinguished, several school districts near the facility, including Deer Park and La Porte, said they would be closed Wednesday and cancelled after-school activities, due to the conditions from the fire and changes in the weather.
“Weather forecasts for Tuesday night and Wednesday call for conditions that could cause the smoke plume from the fire to directly affect our school district and, in an abundance of caution, La Porte ISD has decided to cancel classes for Wednesday, March 20,” according to the district’s statement.
The school districts in the City of Pasadena, Channelview, Sheldon and Galena Park also announced they had cancelled classes on Wednesday. San Jacinto College will also be closed.
Schools and businesses had briefly reopened Tuesday, even as some worried about the air quality in the area. ITC said that air monitoring near the facility has shown readings “well below hazardous levels.”
Questions about air quality
Ryan Sitton, a commissioner with the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates oil and natural gas in the state, said several teams, including those with the chemical facility and the Environmental Protection Agency, are monitoring the air quality.
“There is a plethora of air quality monitoring that is going on constantly, and it makes me confident that the people of the area are not at elevated risk right now,” he said Tuesday.
Despite such assurances, some health officials have expressed ongoing concern about the health impacts of the fire.
“I worry when officials say no health effects are expected,” Winifred Hamilton, environmental health science director at the Baylor College of Medicine, told CNN affiliate KPRC-TV. “They’re really talking about acute, immediate health effects, and we may still see some of those.”
The tanks that were on fire contained chemicals that go into making gasoline, including xylene, naptha and pyrolysis gasoline, known as Pygas.
Sitton said that chemicals like xylene and toluene can burn in a “disgusting blob,” but said there weren’t toxins, but could contain particulates.
Xylene is a solvent that occurs naturally in petroleum, ITC said. Swallowing or breathing the substance can cause death, while nonlethal exposure can cause eye, nose, throat and skin irritation, among other maladies, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Naphtha is a petroleum product resulting from the distillation of natural gas or crude oil, the library says. It can be an eye and nasal irritant.
One tank that caught fire contains toluene, which is used in the production of nail polish remover, glue and paint thinner, ITC said. Toluene occurs naturally in crude oil and is used as a gasoline additive, “and damage to the central nervous system is the main concern following exposure to toluene in the air,” the library says.

About Fire Buyer

International Fire Buyer is the leading authority in global passive and active fire content, delivering expert news, in-depth articles, exclusive interviews, and industry insights across print, digital, and event platforms. Published 10 times a year, the magazine is a trusted resource for professionals seeking updates and analysis on the latest developments in the fire sector.

To submit an article, or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact our team below.

Chris Lingham image - Fire Buyer

Chris Lingham

Group Sales Manager

Afua Akoto picture - Fire Buyer

Afua Akoto

Marketing Manager

Read the Latest Issue

Follow us on X

Follow us on X

Click Here

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn

Click Here

Advertise here

Reach decision makers and amplify your marketing

Advertise here

Click Here

Related News

Picture of new Aico Launches New Platinum Partner Initiative - Photo by Aico - Fire Buyer

Aico Launches New Platinum Partner Initiative

Aico has announced the launch of its Platinum Partner initiative, a prestigious recognition programme designed to elevate industry
Picture of Enforcer Volterra sign - Photo by Pierce Manufacturing Inc. - Fire Buyer

Frederick County Prepares for Delivery of Electric Fire Truck

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) business, has announced that the Frederick County, Maryland Division of
Picture of ship - Photo by Survitec - Fire Buyer

Maritime Protection Secures Record €22.7m Contract

Maritime Protection, a brand of global Survival Technology solutions provider Survitec, has been awarded a contract valued at…
Picture of Paul Haynes at Mann McGowan - Fire Buyer

Mann McGowan Strengthen Sales Team With New Appointment

Mann McGowan, manufacturer of high performance intumescent fire, smoke and acoustic seals, has announced the appointment of Paul…
Picture of Rescue Intellitech product - Photo by Rescue Intellitech - Fire Buyer

Rescue Intellitech Launches New Firefighting Equipment Solution

Rescue Intellitech has launched advanced, dual-drying cabinets for PPE which will help fire and rescue services in the UK improve…
Picture of WAGNER product - Photo by Wagner - Fire Buyer

WAGNER to Unveil Groundbreaking Fire Protection Solutions at FeuerTrutz 2025

At the upcoming FeuerTrutz, the leading trade fair for preventive fire protection in Nuremberg, WAGNER will showcase its comprehensive…
Picture of firefighter - Photo by Dräger - Fire Buyer

Dräger Launches New Water Rescue Helmet

Dräger has launched the HPS AquaRescue, a new lightweight helmet for use by emergency services personnel who need to..
Picture of 2025 IWMA Ragnar Wighus Award Winner - Photo by IWMA - Fire Buyer

IWMA Announces Winner of 2025 Ragnar Wighus Award

The Ragnar Wighus Award, a prize bestowed by the International Water Mist Association (IWMA), has this year been won by Azad Hamzehpour…
Handshake

HAIX Launches New Firefighting Boot with EXTRAGUARD Upper

HAIX has unveiled the FIRE EAGLE 2.0 EXG, a firefighting boot incorporating a newly developed upper material aimed at increasing…
Picture of wildfires - Picture by Fire Buyer

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Crosses Atlantic, Reaches Europe

As Canadian wildfire crews continue to confront intense blazes across multiple provinces, smoke generated by these fires is now making its…
Scroll to Top