1 person injured in plant explosion in Pasadena

Workers were starting compressor when fire started

PASADENA, Texas – One person was injured in an explosion at a plant in Pasadena, police said Saturday.

It happened around 10:15 a.m. at the Pasadena Refining System.

Recommended Videos



Officials said workers were starting a compressor when the fire started.

OSHA records indicate at least nine citations for the plant in the past.

Plant personnel told Pasadena police there is no chemical release inside the plant.

The person was taken to Bayshore Medical Center with a flash burn to the hand, and was released shortly after.

Authorities closed the Houston Ship Channel at 10:40 a.m. and it didn't reopen until 2:25 p.m. Also, the Washburn tunnel was closed in both directions.

Here is Petrobras' statement on the incident:

Petrobras announces that earlier today, March 5th, at 1:15 pm, Brasília time, a fire broke out at the DieselHydrotreating Unit belonging to Pasadena Refinery System Inc. (PRSI), in Texas/USA.

The mutual assistance plan, an agreement between the refinery and the local authorities, was put into action and the fire was brought under control. During the incident, a worker was taken to a local hospital for treatment and then released.

PRSI and Harris County professionals performed air quality monitoring around the refinery and no external impact was identified.

As a precaution, the canal in the PRSI area was temporarily closed to shipping, then reopened a few hours later.

The refinery continues to operate safely, in accordance with the due operating licenses issued by the responsible bodies.