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Fire at Oxy Vinyl Tuesday morning quickly snuffed out
By ROY N. KENT
Quick action by a Deer Park industry averted disaster early Tuesday morning.
Around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, Occidental Chemical Corporation’s Deer Park vinyl chloride monomore plant “experienced a furnace fire.”
The fire was automatically and immediately isolated, according to a plant official.
Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the plant in Deer Park. According to the company’s update on the CAER line, the plant’s internal fire department is handling the fire.
“There were no injuries,” said Stacy Crews, a public affairs official.
After being notified by the company, the city of Deer Park issued a voluntary shelter in place. The all clear was sounded shortly after 9 a.m.
Also affected by the shelter in place were several schools within the Deer Park Independent School District.
“As a precaution, all DPISD facilities north of X Street between Georgia and East sheltered in place,” said Director of Communications Matt Lucas. “The SIP affected the Administration Building, Wolters Administrative Annex, the Transportation Department, DAEP, North Campus, San Jacinto Elementary, Wolters Accelerated High School, and Deer Park Junior High.”
The district responded as planned to the incident.
“We received an all clear from the city’s emergency operations center at about 9:25 a.m.,” Lucas said. “Schools that sheltered in place this morning resumed normal daily activities at that time. Some school buses were in the middle of their routes when the SIP was called, and the buses were re-routed to Dabbs Elementary and DPHS-South Campus.
“Our employees responded to the incident appropriately, and our overall response to the fire and SIP was a success. Our new communications system, which allows us to make emergency announcements over public address systems in the schools and buildings via telephone, was an excellent tool that helped us get a single message to hundreds of employees at the same time.”
Occidental Chemical Corporation vowed to find the source of the fire.
“OxyChem is committed to safeguarding the environment and protecting the safety and health of our employees and neighboring communities,” Crews said. “We will conduct a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
OxyChem reported that it has notified the appropriate government authorities and “we will continue to cooperate fully with them.”
Residents are urged to call 281-476-CARE for additional updates.
Around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, Occidental Chemical Corporation’s Deer Park vinyl chloride monomore plant “experienced a furnace fire.”
The fire was automatically and immediately isolated, according to a plant official.
Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the plant in Deer Park. According to the company’s update on the CAER line, the plant’s internal fire department is handling the fire.
“There were no injuries,” said Stacy Crews, a public affairs official.
After being notified by the company, the city of Deer Park issued a voluntary shelter in place. The all clear was sounded shortly after 9 a.m.
Also affected by the shelter in place were several schools within the Deer Park Independent School District.
“As a precaution, all DPISD facilities north of X Street between Georgia and East sheltered in place,” said Director of Communications Matt Lucas. “The SIP affected the Administration Building, Wolters Administrative Annex, the Transportation Department, DAEP, North Campus, San Jacinto Elementary, Wolters Accelerated High School, and Deer Park Junior High.”
The district responded as planned to the incident.
“We received an all clear from the city’s emergency operations center at about 9:25 a.m.,” Lucas said. “Schools that sheltered in place this morning resumed normal daily activities at that time. Some school buses were in the middle of their routes when the SIP was called, and the buses were re-routed to Dabbs Elementary and DPHS-South Campus.
“Our employees responded to the incident appropriately, and our overall response to the fire and SIP was a success. Our new communications system, which allows us to make emergency announcements over public address systems in the schools and buildings via telephone, was an excellent tool that helped us get a single message to hundreds of employees at the same time.”
Occidental Chemical Corporation vowed to find the source of the fire.
“OxyChem is committed to safeguarding the environment and protecting the safety and health of our employees and neighboring communities,” Crews said. “We will conduct a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
OxyChem reported that it has notified the appropriate government authorities and “we will continue to cooperate fully with them.”
Residents are urged to call 281-476-CARE for additional updates.
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