Gas pipeline explosion forced more than 1,000 households to evacuate, fire lasted for hours, this is the cause

On September 16, a gas pipeline explosion occurred in Deer Park, Texas, USA, causing a large fire that lasted for many hours.

A gas pipeline explosion in the US state of Texas created a huge fire that could not be extinguished directly. (Source: AP)

NBC News reported that local authorities said the incident occurred when an SUV hit a pipeline valve lying on the ground after crashing through a fence next to a Walmart parking lot. The explosion shook nearby homes and businesses, injuring four people, including a firefighter.

Although Energy Transfer stopped supplying natural gas through the 32km pipeline after the incident, the amount of gas remaining in the pipeline was too large, so firefighters could not put out the fire directly and could only spray water on nearby houses until the fire went out on its own.

From an environmental perspective, letting the fire go out on its own is a better option than trying to put it out with foam or liquid, says Ramanan Krishnamoorti, a professor of petroleum engineering at the University of Houston.

If the fire is attempted to be extinguished, it “will release a large amount of volatile organic compounds into the environment” and will certainly have negative environmental consequences, including emissions of dust, carbon and organic material.

More than 1,000 homes were evacuated and schools in the area were closed due to the incident. The fire also damaged nearby power lines, temporarily cutting off power to thousands of customers.

“The fire is very hot, so many nearby structures are still burning, even though we are spraying water,” said Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr.

Energy Transfer has installed air monitoring equipment near the fire. Although no volatile organic compounds have been detected, local officials are advising residents to take proactive precautions.

According to an update from the AP news agency, the fire is gradually decreasing this morning. Authorities are investigating the cause and monitoring the condition of pipeline infrastructure in the area.

There is currently no preliminary evidence to suggest this was a coordinated or "terrorist" attack and "it appears to be an isolated incident".

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