Fire at 2nd Texas chemical facility in 2 weeks; 2 injured

By JUAN A. LOZANO Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) — A fire that sent thick, black plumes of smoke skyward at a Texas chemical plant Tuesday injured two workers and left a third person unaccounted for, authorities said, in the second major blaze at a Houston-area chemical facility in about two weeks.
The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office said in a tweet that early reports indicated two people were injured and a third one could not be located.
Authorities shut down a roadway near Tuesday’s fire at a KMCO chemical plant in Crosby, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of Houston suburb, Harris county Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a tweet.
All residents within a one-mile radius of the plant were ordered to stay indoors or shelter in place.
The county fire marshal’s office said that a warehouse at the plant was on fire and officials were “trying to determine what products are involved.”
One employee told KPRC television that the plant was in the process of being evacuated because workers were told that there was a leak of some sort.
The employee said the plant exploded as about 20 workers were leaving. He said employees had to crawl under a gate because the gate was locked.
Messages left with KMCO were not immediately returned.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said that it has dispatched emergency response personnel to conduct an initial assessment of the fire.
The fire comes about two weeks after a March 17 blaze at a petrochemical storage facility in Deer Park, located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Crosby. That earlier fire burned for days and triggered air quality warnings.
According to its web site, KMCO is a chemical company that offers coolant and brake fluid products and chemicals for the oilfield industry.
The Crosby, Sheldon and Channelview school districts have asked students and staff to shelter in place at all their campuses.