Lightning Strikes Valero Texas City Refinery, Fire Erupts
Lightning struck an electrical transformer at the Valero refinery in Texas City Thursday morning, causing a fire.
Officials with Texas City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) told Houston's ABC affiliate Channel 13 that the lightning strike occurred just before 6:20 am CST this morning. Firefighters on the scene told local media that there is currently oil burning inside of a container at the facility.
Derek Duckett, Texas City Emergency Management Coordinator, told the Houston Chronicle that firefighters can't douse the fire with water due to the potential danger from electrical shock. They are now containing the fire to the transformer and are allowing the blaze to burn itself out.
Source: Click2Houston.com No injuries have been reported and the OEM said there is no danger to the community. However, the agency is requesting that all non-essential personnel avoid the area around the Valero facility until further notice. The National Weather Service says thunderstorms could linger through Friday in the Houston area.
The Texas City Emergency Management team released the following statement Thursday morning:
"Lightning struck an electrical transformer at the Valero Texas City Refinery and it is currently on fire. A black smoke plume can be seen from the burning transformer oil. Fire and power company personnel are on scene. There is currently no danger to the public, but we ask that all non-essential personnel avoid the area around the Valero Refinery on south loop 197. We will advise if further action on your part is needed. Thank you."
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The Texas City Valero refinery was struck by lightning and caught transformer oil on fire. (Crystal Mitchell)
Thursday, August 20, 2015 03:42PM
TEXAS CITY, TX (KTRK) --
Lightning struck an electrical transformer at the Valero Texas City refinery, causing a fire to break out.
Officials with Texas City OEM say the lightning strike happened just before 6:20am. Multiple people on social media told Eyewitness News they could see thick, black smoke coming from the facility.
Officials say the smoke is the result insulating oil within the transformer that caught on fire after the lightning strike. Firefighters on scene say they have the situation under control and are letting the fire burn itself out.
No one at the plant got hurt. Texas City OEM says there is no danger to the community, but it is asking all non-essential personnel to avoid the area around the Valero Refinery on South Loop 197 until further notice.