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Explosions Rock Texas City Plant
Residents To Shelter-In-Place

POSTED: 8:22 pm CST March 30, 2004
UPDATED: 8:32 pm CST March 30, 2004

TEXAS CITY, Texas -- Several explosions sparked a fire at a Texas City refinery Tuesday night.

Fire crews were called to the BP Amoco chemical plant on S. 5th Avenue and 25th Street around 7:45 p.m.

"The fire is a furnace unit," said Annie Smith, with BP Amoco. "All of our employees have been accounted for."

No one was injured.

Nearby plants were evacuated as a precaution and Texas City and La Marque residents were asked to shelter-in-place since hydrocarbons were burning.

Shelter-In-Place Order

When a shelter-in-place is issued, residents should:
Go inside
Shut all doors and windows
Turn off air conditioners and heaters to prevent outside air from getting inside
Stay off the phone
Do not use fireplaces. Put out fires and close all dampers.
Move to a room with the fewest windows and doors. Tape around doors, windows, exhaust fans and vents using plastic sheeting or garbage bags, if directed.
Turn on the radio or television to listen for further instructions

Families are advised to have the following items in a shelter-in-place kit.
Two rolls of duct tape
Cloth and paper towels
Plastic sheets or trash bags
Flashlight and extra batteries
Battery-powered radio
Two gallons of water
Nonperishable foods

Residents heard the explosions and then saw the fire.

"We saw the flames, which were pretty high … seems to be pretty serious," said Matt Lynth, a resident.

Several streets in the area are closed, so motorists are advised to avoid the area.

News2Houston's chief meteorologist Frank Billingsley said a light northwest wind carried the smoke away from Texas City and toward the Gulf.

Stay tuned to News2Houston and Click2Houston.com for the latest on this breaking news story.