Valero Refinery released a statement after emergency officials responded see smoke rising The facility was evacuated after an explosion was reported. Video shows fire at Valero refinery port arthur, Texas.
“Valero’s emergency response teams are responding and coordinating with local authorities,” Valero said in a statement, Fox 26 Houston reported. “As a precaution, Jefferson County officials have closed State Routes 82 and 87. As always, the safety of our workers is our top priority.”
The Texas Department of Emergency Management and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sent personnel to the scene.
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“Emergency response coordinators and regional staff have deployed handheld and mobile air monitoring equipment in response to the Valero Fire in Port Arthur, Texas, and are coordinating activities through incident command,” TCEQ spokesperson Laura Lopez said in a statement. “We will share updates on our social media channels (Facebook and X) as soon as they become available.”
What you need to know about explosions
After the explosion, police asked people on the west side of Port Arthur to shelter in place. Residents in surrounding areas are encouraged to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed. They are asked to follow guidance from local officials.
Road closures are expected in and around Highways 82 and 87, Port Arthur officials said. Traffic is expected to enter the area from other roads.
On Monday, March 23, local officials warned residents near the refinery to shelter in place immediately “in light of the recent explosion at the Valero Port Arthur Refinery.”
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“In order to ensure the safety of all nearby residents and in light of the recent explosion at the Valero Refinery, we have ordered an immediate shelter-in-place order,” Port Arthur emergency management officials wrote in an alert, Gulf News reported. It added that the order applied to the large swath of land surrounding the refinery.
The refinery is located approximately 90 miles east of Houston. The plant employs nearly 800 people and is responsible for “processing heavy sour crude oil and other feedstocks into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel” and transporting about 435,000 barrels per day, according to Valero’s website.
