Deer Park Chemical Fire Intensifies, 8 Tanks Still Burn

DEER PARK, TX— A fire that has burned for three days at the ITC facility in Deer Park intensified Tuesday and spread to another empty tank, after firefighters reported a drop in water pressure, officials said.

Fire spread to an empty tank shortly before firefighters were were able to restore water pressure and continue to battle the fire.

ITC Spokesperson Alice Richardson said Tuesday that eight tanks were still burning, describing the situation as fluid.

Firefighters have battled the blaze since the initial explosion on Sunday morning that ignited a tank filled with a Naphtha and a second containing Xylene.

Residents were ordered to shelter in place on Sunday over concerns of toxic fumes from the fire. Officials lifted the shelter in place order Monday as the fire spread to several other tanks on Monday, including one containing Toluene.

Concerns over deteriorating air quality and the possibility of more explosions prompting school districts in Deer Park and La Porte to cancel classes on Monday. Classes resumed for all districts on Tuesday, officials said.

Officials from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and local emergency management agencies are continuously monitoring air quality, which officials said are still at acceptable levels.

Meanwhile, resources from other firefighting companies were requested and arrived at the scene Tuesday morning, officials said.

Fire officials said on Monday that the fire may need to burn itself out. So far, there have been no injuries.

READ ALSO: Deer Park Chemical Plant May Burn 2 More Days, Officials Warn

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Send your news tips and story ideas to bryan.kirk@patch.com