As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the fire at the Shell Deer Park Chemical facility reignited on Saturday, May 6, 2023, several hours after it was declared extinguished.
Shell said the fire restarted at 3:14 PM and called for mutual aid to respond to the plant out of an abundance of caution. People in the area were warned that they might see black smoke flaring and increased noise from the plant. More concerns were raised in the community as a result of the flare up and black smoke.
Earlier in the morning, white steam was still rising from the middle of the facility, a lingering remnant of a large fire that started the day before. Ambulances rushed down State Highway 225 when the large fire started Friday. Police cars blocked streets to the plant, and residents stood in a Frontage Road parking lot, watching a massive column of black smoke ascend and drift north.
The restarted fire was a result of remaining product on site, said Shell representatives. The exact cause of the fire wasn’t announced by Saturday morning. Earlier, Shell said that the unit was undergoing maintenance when something ignited gasoline. The Harris County fire marshal’s office on Saturday morning said its investigators were still waiting for the unit to be declared safe before beginning its site investigation.
Benny Agosto, Jr. and the law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz, & Stogner represent a number of workers that were injured as a result of the fire and evacuation. The firm has hired experts and is currently investigating the cause of the fire.
If you or someone you know has suffered injuries or the loss of a family member due to a fire or explosion, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz, & Stogner by calling 713-222-7211 or 1-800-870-9584.