Deer Park pipeline burnoff estimated to last through early Tuesday morning, company says
Energy Transfer, the owner of the pipeline that ignited on Monday, said the fire was still burning late in the evening but was reducing.
Not only is this fire about 3 miles from my house, but I also work in the pipeline business. Thankfully this wasn't one of my pipelines and I didn't decide to buy a house in that neighborhood.
According to local emergency management services, the fire started at 9:55 a.m. The nearest intersection is Spencer Hwy & Canada in Deer Park, TX. The pipeline right of way runs under the road and then between Wal Mart & a neighborhood of homes built in the early to mid 2000's. According to LE (local FBI is on the scene) a vehicle crashed through the gate, struck the pipeline and then backed up. The pipeline contains Y-grade (natural gas) and belongs to Energy Transfer. The same vehicle that struck the pipeline then became the source of ignition for the leak they just created.
We don't know yet if this was intentional or an accident, but given how far away the valve station is away from the road, and the car crashing through the gate, hitting the pipeline and then backing up... this being intentional is certainly a possibility.
The pipeline was isolated, but given that it's natural gas, the best thing to do is let it keep burning. They anticipate that it will still be burning into tomorrow. The fire is so intense that nearby homes are burning. Many families have been displaced, along with their pets. I intend to try and host a family for at least a few days while I'm off work.
I hope I'm not out of bounds here when I suggest that people may be interested in looking up current litigation cases involving Energy Transfer...
