On Tuesday morning, a massive pipeline explosion that followed a vehicle crashing through a fence and hitting an above-ground valve led to a towering flame that slowly diminished.
Local officials reported that preliminary investigations by the Deer Park police and FBI suggest the incident was not a coordinated or terrorist attack, but rather an isolated event.
The inquiry is focusing on the driver of the vehicle, which was destroyed in the blast. The explosion caused extensive damage, including burning nearby areas, cutting power lines, and igniting distant homes. There has been no information on the driver’s condition.
Approximately 1,000 homes were evacuated, and schools were initially closed.
Although operators shut off the pipeline’s gas flow, the remaining gas in the pipeline prevented firefighters from intervening directly, so they concentrated on protecting nearby homes with water.
Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr. noted that the intense fire, which lasted over 12 hours, was addressed by ladder trucks spraying water from above.
