One person was injured Wednesday after an explosion at a chemical plant near Pasadena.
The explosion — what is called a “Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion” or BLEVE — took place just after noon at the INEOS chemical site, according to Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, as reported by KHOU.
Mitchell Weston, chief investigator for the Harris County Fire Marshall’s Office (HCFMO), described what a BLEVE explosion was to members of the press, as reported by ABC News.
“When you have a liquid petroleum or a liquid propane inside a tank, the fire that occurred outside can heat the tank to the point that the inside is boiling and the pressure is so great that it overcomes the release mechanisms, the safety valves, and the container holding it explodes,” said Weston.
Garcia said that a truck was transporting liquid petroleum and was in the process of transferring from one truck to another.
“At this time, we really don’t know,” said Capt. Chad Shaw with the HCFMO regarding the cause of the explosion, as reported by ABC News. “Any time you have a transfer of chemical like that, if there’s any type of vapor, it can find an ignition source anywhere.”
Numerous roads in the vicinity were shut down, including Highway 225 and the Harris County Toll Road while firefighters and other emergency responders battled the flames and sought to contain the fire.
After about 1:30 p.m., the fire was extinguished, and the emergency crews reopened all the roads that were shut down initially.
The injured person was taken to the hospital, but there is no word on the person’s identity or the injuries that were suffered.
Harris County Pollution Control Services representative Dr. Latrice Babin said that the chemical fire would not have a negative effect on the population, per KHOU. Babin said further that people looking for reassurance could consult a map detailing Harris County’s pollution.