Sheriff says no injuries in Valero fire, company issues statement to KFDM

PORT ARTHUR — First responders are working a fire at the Valero Refinery in Port Arthur.

Sheriff Zena Stephens and Port Arthur Police Chief Tim Duriso tell KFDM News there are no reported injuries and all workers are accounted for following the blast at about 6:30 Monday night.

She says the fire involves a heater unit.

“Currently, there is a fire in a unit at Valero’s Port Arthur, Texas refinery,” Carol Hebert, Valero Public Affairs Manager, tells KFDM. “All personnel have been accounted for. Valero’s emergency response team is responding and coordinating with local authorities. As a precaution, Jefferson County officials have closed State Highways 82 and 87. As always, the safety of our workers is our top priority.”

People say homes shook miles away.

There’s a shelter-in-place for the west side of Port Arthur, Sabine Pass and Pleasure Island.

Sabine Pass ISD is closed Tuesday. No other school districts are closed.

Sheriff Zena Stephens tells KFDM there are no evacuations.

She says Valero is getting water on the fire and working to put it out. By 9:30, our crews in Port Arthur saw only flaring at the plant, with no other flames visible.

Police are closing portions of Highway 87 and Highway 82 leading into Port Arthur from Pleasure Island and Sabine Pass.

Chief Duriso says as soon as it’s safe, he’ll place officers at key intersections and allow people to travel into the city.

The TCEQ is monitoring air quality:

Emergency response coordinators and regional staff have been deployed with handheld and mobile air monitoring assets in response to the Valero fire in Port Arthur, TX and are coordinating activities through incident command. Updates will be shared as available.