Mastodawn

Fire out and shelter-in-place order is lifted after #OilRefinery explosion near #Texas coast

By HALLIE GOLDEN
Updated 7:29 AM EDT, March 24, 2026

"An oil refinery fire near the Texas coast was put out Tuesday and a shelter-in-place order was lifted, hours after a large explosion at the complex shot plumes of smoke into the air, officials said.

"No one was injured in Monday’s explosion at the #Valero refinery in #PortArthur, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Houston, Mayor Charlotte M. Moses said. She had urged residents in parts of the west side of the city to stay put.

" 'There’s been an explosion, yes, but we’re OK; everybody’s OK,' she said. 'They’re trying to put the fire out as quickly as possible.'

"Residents at least several miles away said they felt their homes shake. Some schools in the area were closed Tuesday as a precaution.

"The explosion comes amid a spike in gas prices driven by uncertainty over the global oil supply because of the Iran war.

"The refinery has about 770 employees and can process about 435,000 barrels of oil per day, according to Valero’s website. The plant refines heavy sour crude oil into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel."

#BigOilAndGas #BlackRain #ToxicPlumes #RenewablesNow #USPol #TrumpSucks #Oiligrchy

Fire out and shelter order lifted after Texas oil refinery explosion

Officials say an oil refinery fire near the Texas coast has been put out and a shelter-in-place order has been lifted following air quality testing. The large explosion at the complex had shot plumes of smoke into the air. A Valero spokesperson says no one was injured and all employees are accounted for after Monday’s explosion at the company's refinery in Port Arthur. The explosion comes amid a spike in gas prices driven by uncertainty over the global oil supply because of the Iran war. Valero’s website says the refinery has about 770 employees and can process about 435,000 barrels of oil per day. The plant refines heavy sour crude oil into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

AP News