Stay indoors order lifted near Deer Park chemical plant

HOUSTON (AP) — Authorities on Thursday ordered people to stay indoors for several hours after high levels of benzene were detected in the air near a petrochemical storage facility outside of Houston where a fire sent a black pillar of smoke into the air for days.

Firefighters on Wednesday extinguished the blaze at the Intercontinental Terminals Company in Deer Park, which started Sunday and destroyed several large tanks that contained gasoline and chemicals used in nail polish remover, glues and paint thinner. They continued to spray foam on the site Thursday to try to prevent flare-ups.

Authorities said Wednesday that benzene levels near the facility didn’t pose a health concern, but they issued the shelter-in-place order early Thursday due to “reports of benzene or other volatile organic compounds” in Deer Park, which is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Houston. Several school districts also canceled classes for the day due to the air quality concerns.

The order was lifted at around noon on Thursday after authorities said several readings showed the air quality had improved.

At a news conference before the order was lifted, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who is the county’s top administrator, said that light winds were helping to keep the vapors from spreading more broadly.

“Outside of that immediate area we’re not seeing elevated levels right now,” said Hidalgo.

Dr. Umair Shah, who heads the county health agency, said there was still only a minimal public health risk, but he cautioned that the elderly, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups should try to limit their exposure.

“The most important thing is that the levels that have been detected are still not high enough for the level of concern that people may be having,” he said.

The county fire marshal, Laurie Christensen, said the benzene vapors may be escaping from gaps in the foam that firefighters have been spraying to try to prevent flare-ups at the site.

The Texas National Guard’s 6th civil support team was assisting at the scene Thursday. The team of about a dozen was helping to contain hazardous materials and provide other assistance to local emergency responders.

Environmental groups said residents who live near the facility have experienced various symptoms.