Storm Harvey: New Explosion at Arkema Chemical Plant Causes Massive Fire

Local Editor

Towering flames and clouds of black smoke overtook much of the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, after extensive flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey forced an evacuation of the facility.

Late Friday evening, a representative with Arkema told RT America that the fire is not out yet, but it is "in the last stages of smoldering."

A representative with Arkema Inc. told RT that a fire, which caused noxious plumes of black smoke to tower over Crosby, Texas on Friday, has is not yet extinguished, but is "in the last stages of smoldering."

The fire erupted after two refrigerated trailers containing chemicals became too hot and combusted, Richard Rennard, president of acrylic monomers business for Arkema, said in a press conference.

There are another six trailers at the plant, which Rennard said do not have refrigeration capabilities. He added that officials "fully expect the same thing to happen with those containers that we saw today."

Bob Royall, assistant chief of emergency operations for the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, said that they were first notified about the incident by fire and law enforcement units at the plant, who said there was a column of white smoke coming from inside the facility. That smoke later turned to a light-brown color and eventually to a dark black.

Royall said that the fire spread from one of the trailers to a second trailer, resulting in two of the remaining trailers burning. There are now only six trailers remaining at the plant.

"You could call this a warning sign that more explosions or fires could be coming soon," Jeff Carr, a spokesman for Arkema, told the Houston Chronicle.

This is the second trailer at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas to catch on fire, sending plumes of noxious black smoke into the air Friday. Two smaller explosions at the chemical plant occurred Thursday.

The smoke could be seen in the residential Newport area of Crosby, about 7 miles away.

Meanwhile, Harris County officials are advising residents who did not evacuate the 1.5-mile area around the plant to close their windows and turn off their air conditioning systems.

Source: RT, Edited by website team