PASADENA, Texas - A chemical refinery in Pasadena caught fire on
Saturday night, alarming nearby residents who could hear explosions.
According
to a spokesman for the Pasadena Chemical Refining Plant, the fire broke
out around 7 p.m. at its facility on Red Bluff at W. Richey.
The
company says the sludge at the bottom of a tank caught fire. While
nearby residents said they heard at least two explosions, the company
would only confirm there was a fire.
A spokesman for the Pasadena
Police Department says two people were injured with non-life
threatening injuries. One of the injured was sent to the hospital.
Many residents contacted FOX 26 over concerns that officials never contacted them about the fire or shelter-in-place.
"We
never heard a warning after the explosion," wrote one viewer. "I live
across the freeway from the plant. Our windows shook, and I looked out
the front door to see a huge fireball across the freeway and smelled
something burning."
Officials say the incident was treated
as a structure fire and not an explosion, and a shelter-in-place for
residents north of Southmore was lifted after a brief amount of time.
Pasadena Refinery Catches Fire, 2 Injured: MyFoxHOUSTON.com |