A Fire which originated in the processing unit of Houston-area refinery was extinguished after it sent a plume of black smoke over a wide area of Southeast Houston.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) confirmed that there was fire at ExxonMobil’s Baytown refinery and chemical plant early Friday, which sent thick black smoke into the air. The fire was contained within an hour.
Company spokeswoman Pattie Shieh says the fire originated in a processing unit known as a coker unit.
The cause of the fire was not revealed and it wasn’t immediately disclosed what chemical was fueling the blaze. However, the USCG said Houston Port remains open.
LyondellBasell describes the plant as one of the nation’s largest refineries to process heavy-sulfur crude oil into clean fuels including reformulated gasoline and low-sulfur diesel, along with heating oil, jet fuel and lubricants.
Source: Associated Press
