A significant explosion and fire at Valero's Port Arthur oil refinery in Texas on Monday prompted local authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents. The incident, which occurred at one of the largest refineries in the U.S., sent massive plumes of smoke into the air but resulted in no injuries, according to Port Arthur Mayor Charlotte Moses.
'There's been an explosion, yes, but we're OK, everybody's OK,' Moses said in a video posted on Facebook. 'They're trying to put the fire out as quickly as possible. They are working fast, our firefighters are on the scene. They're working really hard.'
The refinery, located about 90 miles east of Houston, processes approximately 435,000 barrels of oil per day and employs around 770 workers. Valero confirmed the incident in a statement, assuring that all personnel had been accounted for and that emergency teams were coordinating with local authorities. As a precaution, Jefferson County officials closed State Highways 82 and 87.
'For your safety, please remain in place until the ‘All Clear’ is given by emergency personnel,' the city advised residents in affected areas, including Stillwell Boulevard West, South of Highway 73, Sabine Pass, and Pleasure Island.
Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens suggested that an industrial heater may have caused the explosion. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality deployed air monitoring assets to assess the situation, emphasizing coordination through incident command.