Shelter in place issued for residents in Port Arthur after explosion at Valero refinery
Click2Houston • • nation
Key Points:
- Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens has issued a shelter-in-place order for residents on the west side of Port Arthur following an explosion at the Valero refinery.
- Videos show a large fire and thick smoke at the refinery, which processes about 435,000 barrels of oil daily and employs around 770 people.
- No injuries have been reported, and emergency crews are actively working to extinguish the fire, with Mayor Charlotte M. Moses confirming all personnel are safe.
- Residents are advised to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, and expect road closures and traffic disruptions near Highways 82 and 87.
- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is on-site with air monitoring equipment, coordinating with local and state officials to ensure public safety.
