The Houston Chronicle first reported this morning that the ExxonMobil plant in Baytown, Texas experienced an explosion. At the time of the news breaking, not much was known, but as time passes on throughout the day, more information is becoming available.
BREAKING: Explosion and fire reported at Exxon facility in Baytown just. No shelter in place reported right now. Visit https://t.co/WP7mq1Ug8E for latest updates. pic.twitter.com/ktnzh5wFbB
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) July 31, 2019
Just before 9:30am PST, the city of Baytown tweeted that the fire contained polypropylene material and that the company had asked that a “Shelter in Place be issued west of it’s [sic] plant and south of 330. Exxon advised this is out of an abundance of caution.”
UPDATE on @ExxonMobilBTA fire:
The fire is in the unit that contains polypropylene material. Exxon has asked that a Shelter in Place be issued west of it's plant and south of 330. Exxon advised this is out of an abundance of caution. Please RT.— City of Baytown, TX (@CityofBaytown) July 31, 2019
The City of Baytown is issuing a precautionary order to Shelter in Place due to an emergency at ExxonMobil Baytown Area. Areas west of ExxonMobil should Shelter In Place. See the map below. Please RT. pic.twitter.com/WWXOg3RpNf
— City of Baytown, TX (@CityofBaytown) July 31, 2019
Two hours later, six people were reported with non-life threatening injuries, while the Houston Chronicles reports that number has risen to 37.
EXXON FIRE: 6 people are reported with non-life threatening injuries in the Baytown plant blast https://t.co/vucXz52P14 pic.twitter.com/cmZt5ssIgX
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) July 31, 2019
Jason Duncan, plant manager at ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant told the Houston Chronicle that the 37 people injured were taken to an off-site clinic. He said all the injuries were “minor first-degree burns and non-life-threatening.” He also said no one has been admitted to the hospital.
Around 1pm PST, the city once again tweeted, telling residents that the shelter in place had been lifted and the air monitoring they were doing did not detect anything concerning.
UPDATE: The Shelter in Place has been lifted. Air monitoring has NOT detected any levels of concern. Please RT.
— City of Baytown, TX (@CityofBaytown) July 31, 2019
No word yet on if the fire is completely out.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured, and everyone involved. This is the fourth fire at the ExxonMobil plant since January.