The Pipeline Explosion in Deer Park, Texas

A pipeline fire in Deer Park, Texas, which began on Monday, continued to burn for a third day on Wednesday. The fire forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes in the Houston suburbs and caused widespread power outages. The fire was sparked when an SUV hit an aboveground valve on the pipeline, causing the explosion. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.

• The pipeline runs under high-voltage power lines in a grassy corridor between a Walmart and a residential neighborhood.
• The driver of the SUV left the Walmart parking lot, entered the grassy area, and went through a fence surrounding the valve equipment.
• Authorities have offered few details on what caused the vehicle to hit the pipeline valve, the identity of the driver, or what happened to them.

The Evacuation and the Timeline for Return

Authorities evacuated nearly 1,000 homes at one point and ordered people in nearby schools to shelter in place. Starting Wednesday evening, residents in Deer Park and La Porte who had to evacuate were allowed to return to their homes.

• By late Tuesday, about 400 evacuees remained, and some expressed frustration over being forced to quickly flee and not being given any timeline for when they will be able to return.
• A portion of a highway near the pipeline remained closed.

The Pipeline and its Operator

The pipeline is owned by Energy Transfer, a Dallas-based company. The pipeline is a 20-inch-wide conduit that carries natural gas liquids through the suburbs of Deer Park and La Porte.

• Energy Transfer built the Dakota Access Pipeline, which has been at the center of protests and legal battles.
• The company’s executive chairman, Kelcy Warren, has given millions of dollars in campaign contributions to Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Efforts to Extinguish the Fire

Energy Transfer crews worked Wednesday to install specialized isolation equipment on both sides of the damaged section to help extinguish the fire. Once the equipment is installed, the isolated section of the pipeline will be purged with nitrogen, which will extinguish the fire.

• The fire was anticipated to be extinguished within two to three hours after the repair work is completed.
• The company stated that the safest way to manage the process is to let the products burn off.

The Impact of the Explosion

Hundreds of customers lost power as a result of the pipeline explosion. By Wednesday afternoon, only two customers remained without electricity in the Deer Park and La Porte area.

• The fire created thick black smoke that hovered over the area.
• Air quality monitoring showed no immediate risk to individuals.

Safety Concerns and the Environmental Impact

The pipeline explosion raised concerns about industry efforts to protect the public and the environment. Houston is the nation’s petrochemical heartland and is home to a cluster of refineries and plants and thousands of miles of pipelines. Explosions and fires are a familiar sight, and some have been deadly.

• The fire created thick black smoke that hovered over the area.
• Air quality monitoring showed no immediate risk to individuals.