Spectacular fire destroys Texas chemical plant
Date: 03-May-02
Country: USA
The blaze sent flames soaring hundreds of feet into the air near Pearland, Texas, south of Houston before firefighters doused it with foam and water for several hours.
Despite the magnitude of the fire, caused by an explosion of unknown origin that could be heard 5 miles (eight km) away, no one was hurt, officials said.
By late afternoon, no flames were visible but the fire still smoldered beneath the blackened ruin of Third Coast Packaging Inc. where petrochemicals were blended into products such as anti-freeze, brake fluid and motor oil.
The company had more than 90 tanks, each holding up to 50,000 gallons (200,000 litres) of petroleum products, on site, president Tim Elliott said.
Pearland Fire Chief Buck Stevens said the fire would likely burn "for days" before dying.
The blaze caused a huge cloud of black smoke that blew across the region and enshrouded Houston, 20 miles (32 km) away, in air pollution.
Police ordered 100 people out of their homes after the blast. All but a handful who lived closest to the plant were allowed to return home this week afternoon.
