Deer Park Fire Cause and Health Effects: A Legal Perspective

Manifold leak blamed as initial cause of massive storage tank fire in Deer Park

In the “cause of emission event” section of the report, the company wrote “there was a leak that occurred in the 80-8 manifold.”

A leak in a tank manifold is the initial cause of the fire that continues to burn at a chemical storage facility in Deer Park, according to company reports filed with state environmental regulators that KHOU 11 Investigates obtained.

The portion of the Intercontinental Terminals company on fire contains 15 storage tanks in three rows of five. The fire originated right in the middle, “tank 80-8,” according to air emission event reports filed by the company Monday.

In the “cause of emission event” section of the report, the company wrote “there was a leak that occurred in the 80-8 manifold. The release ignited, resulting in a fire within the manifold, involving tank 80-8 and other adjacent tanks as well.”

ITC Deer Park Fire Update

Cleanup and chemical offloading continue into the weekend at the ITC facility in Deer Park after a number of setbacks on Friday.

The fire reignited in three tanks Friday afternoon. The fire then spread to a ditch next to a containment wall against the tanks. That was just the latest issue. The first issue happened during the morning when a dike holding contaminated runoff from the firefighting efforts broke.

ITC officials say the breach in the wall has been closed, but they’re working to strengthen it. A short shelter-in-place for only industrial neighbors was encouraged and the Houston Ship Channel was then closed from Tucker Bayou to Light 116 due to pollution.

ITC Deer Park Health Effects

The ongoing fire that continues to grow at the ITC Deer Park facility can have negative health effects if you’re exposed to chemicals. Overnight, the fire spread to six more tanks, bringing the total of tanks burning to eight. Company officials later reduced the number of tanks burning to six.

The original fire started Sunday in two tanks. One tank contains NAPHTHA, a component in gasoline. The second tank contains XYLENE, another gasoline component. Out of concern for the health and safety of the public, affected workers and first responders, these are the most common symptoms you should look out for as you monitor your health, according to Harris County Public Health:

Coughing
Difficulty breathing
Burning
Irritation
Redness to your eyes, nose and throat
Some people may also experience headaches, nausea or dizziness.

Harris County Public Health says that the elderly, children and those who have respiratory issues may also be negatively impacted.

Deer Park Fire: Need An Attorney?

Be sure to know your legal rights and options if you are someone you know has been negatively impacted by the ITC Deer Park fire.Please do not attempt to determine if you have a compensable case. You must consult a relevant liability attorney who has the expertise and extensive knowledge necessary to determine who ultimately caused the harm and injuries you or a loved one suffered. Contact us for a free case evaluation here.

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