Chemical Fire, Explosion Reported At Flooded Arkema Plant In Crosby, Texas
The French operator of a flooded Houston-area chemical plant says a fire was caused by the degradation of chemicals lacking refrigeration in containers and that up to eight more could burn and explode.
Rich Rennard, an executive with Arkema Inc., said at a news conference just hours after the initial explosion, one of nine refrigerated containers had failed. He says he expects the organic peroxide in up to eight more to degrade, burn and “produce more explosions.”
Rennard says he doesn’t know how long it will take for them all to degrade. Assistant Harris County Fire Chief Bob Royall said the initial explosion took place just after midnight.
He says any smoke can irritate the eyes, skin and lungs.
Local officials say explosions at a flooded Houston-area chemical plant produced no toxins, although federal authorities are describing the resulting plumes as “incredibly dangerous.”
Assistant Harris County Fire Chief Bob Royall told a news conference Thursday that the explosions emitted 30- to 40-foot (9- to 12-meter) flames and black smoke.
Two explosions and black smoke were reported at 2 a.m. local time, after the plant in Crosby, Texas, lost its electricity supply and backup generators, the company said in a statement on Thursday. Arkema stores organic peroxides at several locations on the site and the threat of additional
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said no toxins were released and that there’s no danger to the community. He says sheriff’s deputies who were hospitalized suffering from irritated eyes after the blasts have all been released.
Fire broke out and containers of chemicals burst at the Arkema plant in Crosby, Texas, early Thursday, confirming fears that volatile organic peroxides produced at the plant could pose a threat after Hurricane Harvey knocked out safety systems.
The company had pulled its employees from the facility earlier this week out of concern for their safety. Residents within a 1.5-mile radius of Arkema were also ordered to flee.
Because of flooding from Harvey, the plant lost power — and the ability to safely store chemicals that can explode and cause intense fires. Even the backup generator were flooded and lost power.
Uncharted territory
About 61% of U.S. ethylene production has been shut due to Harvey as of Wednesday afternoon, according to PetroChemwire.
While Gulf Coast chemical plants are designed to withstand hurricane force winds and floods, Harvey has put the industry into uncharted territory, according to Mannan.
“I don’t know if anybody is ready for this level of flooding,” he said.
25 miles from downtown Houston
Arkema’s site in Crosby, which is about 25 miles from downtown Houston, is situated in an area with no hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, recreational areas or industrial and commercial areas in the vicinity, according to the Colombes, France-based company.