Harris County Provides Update On Crosby Chemical Plant Fire

CROSBY, TX — Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Harris County Sheriff's Ed Gonzalez held a press update on the explosion and fire and the KMCO facility that killed one employee and injured two others Tuesday morning.

Two employees were seriously injured and one person was killed after an explosion and fire at the KMCO processing plant in Crosby when a transfer line containing Isobutylene ignited and burned an adjacent tank.

Hidalgo said Harris County officials were collecting air quality readings near the plant facility, and working with the Environmental Protection Agency.

"It is disturbing and it is problematic that we are seeing this incident in this facility, especially on the heels of ITC," she said. "This is an ongoing, dynamic and involving incident."

Officials from the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office shared a Tweet from KMCO which read:

Update from KMCO. One confirmed fatality. pic.twitter.com/mKInsYuwO8
— Harris Co. FMO (@hcfmo) April 2, 2019

During the news conference, the affected school districts in Crosby, Sheldon, Galena Park, and Channelview lifted the shelter in place order and allowed parents to pick up their children.

READ ALSO: Crosby Chemical Plant Fire And Explosion Kills 1, Injures 2

Gonzalez said deputies were in the area to assist local law enforcement with support and perimeter control on some area roadways near the facility.

"This is a multi agency response," he said.

Gonzalez said officials had not detected any active readings to indicate the presence of hazardous materials.

However, Rachel Moreno with the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, said some dry goods near the tank also ignited they are still trying to determine of anything other than the Isobutylene is hazardous.

Officials did say that the fire is contained and does not appear to be spreading.

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