STORY: Recap of the ITC Plant fire

On Sunday, March 17, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a fire started at the Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) in Deer Park, TX. The initial fire started with two chemical tanks, but spread to an additional five tanks by Monday.

ITC is located near the Houston Ship Channel. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time. In the aftermath of the fire, there have been numerous developments, news stories, weather events and rumors. The following Playbuzz story outlines the facts chronologically and looks further into the environmental repercussions.

• The fire starts at the Intercontinental Terminal Company.
• Shelter in place issued for Deer Park.

“The fire at the Intercontinental Terminal Co. facility started with two tanks about 10:30 a.m. Sunday and spread to an additional five tanks by Monday morning,” reads the Channel 2 report. “According to officials at ITC, the chemicals that are burning are components of gasoline. One of the tanks also contains a chemical called naphtha that is a component of nail polish remover and paint thinner.”

• Industry officials claimed that smoke plume from the fire burning is no worse than the smoke from your backyard barbecue. However, KHOU 11 interviewed a toxicology doctor on the matter, and she disagrees.

• Fire crews go on the offensive to get control of the blaze as it has reached its third day.
• The fire was out for several hours.
• At 5:21 p.m., a tank reignited and crews had to fight on. The firefighters had it out in minutes.
• The plume of smoke moves from east to west across the greater Houston area, creating a foggy haze above the city. The absence of rain helps keep the plume upward.

• As videos release of the chemical spill spreading through the ship channel, environmental concerns increase.

• Elevated Benzene levels are detected and shelter in place issued for the Deer Park area.  
• Several school districts close their campuses March 21-22. The shelter in place was then lifted at 2 p.m.

• A dike wall collapses at the facility, leading to chemicals being released into Tucker Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel.
• No evidence of Benzene is found in drinking water in Deer Park, stated city officials.
• Lawsuit filed against ITC by Attorney General Ken Paxton claiming they violated Texas Clean Air Act.

• At 11:36 a.m., ITC sends false alarm of another flare up in Deer Park, city tweeted at 2:12 p.m. that the message was sent by mistake.

• The cleanup process continues, ITC officials hold a press conference.
• Students return to class in school districts that closed campuses because of the fire.
• Several local fishing areas closed from pollution.

• Eleven days after the fire started, ITC CEO Bernt Netland issues apology video.

• The Houston Ship Channel reopens, only during daylight hours.
• 16,000 barrels of foam and chemicals removed at this point.
• 13 fish, a frog, and turtle found dead in Tucker Bayou.
• Houston Chronicle article, “Spill from ITC Deer Park plant fire threatening vulnerable marsh.”

• Progress briefing from ITC and Federal officials at 10 a.m. In this media briefing, officials from EPA, Coast Guard, and ITC issue updates and address concerns regarding the cleanup progress.

• In the aftermath and continued cleanup of the ITC plant fire, a second accident occurs in nearby Crosby, TX. The plant explosion occurred at the KMCO facility. There were 2 injuries and one death as a result of the blast.  ABC 13’s Ted Oberg reports that the facility had previous EPA inspection violations on record. The cause of this event is still unknown.

• Harris County Public Health issues statement in document form via Twitter.  The document features contact information for those who believe they have incurred detrimental health effects.

George Guillen, UHCL professor of biology and environmental science and executive director of the Environmental Institute of Houston said, "EIH has actually been participating in the monitoring of natural resources in coordination with TPWD and NOAA the last two weeks. The focus of our work is on marine mammals (dolphin). We already have a ongoing research and monitoring program in Galveston Bay that extends upstream into the lower Houston Ship Channel (HSC) - near the ITC incident. Our program started several years ago."

As these stories continue to unfold, it will take weeks to learn how far reaching the
effects will be. Residents should continue to exercise due diligence in keeping up with official updates on the disaster.