On Thursday, April 7, 2016 around 4:40 p.m., a massive fire erupted at the Baytown ExxonMobil facility located along Bayway Drive near West. This 3,400-acre Baytown complex includes the nation’s second-largest refinery and a sprawling petrochemical plant. At this time, the cause of the fire is undetermined.
A second major plant fire occurred in southwest Houston on April 8, 2016, at the LyondellBasell facility on Lawndale and Allen-Genoa. According to the fire department, a cleaning fluid and heavy fuel were burning in a coker unit. The blaze took nearly two hours for firefighters to put out and required a shelter-in-place for nearby residents and schools. The LyondellBassell facility is home to nearly 1,300 employees and contractors. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
Plant explosions can cause serious injuries and often death. While some individuals may suffer burns as a result of these fires, others may suffer orthopedic-type injuries while attempting to flee from the flames. Further, chemical exposure, depending on level of toxicity, can cause irritation, burns, or inflammation.
If you or someone you know was injured or killed in an accident involving a fire at a refinery, it is important to understand your right to recover. Contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211 for a confidential consultation.