A pipeline explosion sent flames hundreds of feet into the air, prompting evacuations and road closures in Deer Park Monday, east of Houston.
The temperature from the fire was so intense it torched a nearby playground. Firefighters hosed down their equipment and nearby homes, but that wasn’t enough to fight back against the radiant heat. At least five homes are damaged.
Monday evening, officials announced that they had determined the fire was started by a white SUV that drove through a fence and struck the pipeline valve. The driver’s identity—and their intentions—remain unclear at this time.
Energy Transfer owns the pipeline and after more than three hours, they were able to shut down two valves to cut off the natural gas fueling the fire.
The company said the fire was roaring out of a 20-inch natural gas liquids line at a valve station. Although the line had been shut down, the residual product in the line had to burn itself out.
At least four people were hurt in the fire. One man tripped and fell, trying to get his dogs out of the house as the family fled. A firefighter had minor injuries.
More on this story at Click2Houston.
