BAYTOWN, Texas — Officials say a leak may have contaminated soil and water near a Baytown chemical facility after a fire on Tuesday.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a statement posted to X there was a fire at Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions. The fire was also reported on the EPA website and the Baytown Fire Department's Facebook page.
The fire was contained, but a mixture of chemicals leaked from the facility, affecting the immediate area, Hidalgo said.
Residents using well water near the plant were advised to use bottled water. Hidalgo said there was no reason for concern outside of the neighborhood immediately near the facility. The Environmental Protection Agency said there was a population of 818 within a one-mile radius of the facility.
Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions is on Main Street south of Hunt Road.
An EPA report said the agency was notified of the fire and chemical leak on Tuesday. The cause of the fire was unknown.
According to Hidalgo, crews were testing the soil and water. Results of the tests were expected in a few days. Crews built a ditch near the channel to pump out potentially contaminated water.
Hidalgo said that the facility was storing chemicals without a permit in unlabeled containers.
The EPA said the containers that were on fire were glycol ethers and other unknown chemicals.
Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions could not be immediately reached for comment.
Harris County departments including Public Health, Pollution Control, Flood Control District, Office of Emergency Management, the City of Baytown and Harris County Commissioner Precinct 2 were involved in the response.
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia has issued a statement Friday afternoon that read:
“In my decades as a police officer and Sheriff, I never sat back and just watched as a dangerous situation unfolded. Then and today, public safety has always been priority number one. That is why I activated Precinct 2 resources under the guidance of Harris County Pollution Control Services and the Harris County Attorney. Hazmat International, a Precinct 2 vendor, will be remediating the property under the incident command of the Baytown Fire Department. I have instructed them to take every conceivable step to keep the public safe.”
“When I arrived at the scene Friday morning, I was appalled to see the extent to which Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions failed in numerous ways their responsibilities as a handler of hazardous materials, and the haphazard and insufficient manner by which they were engaged in their duty to remediate the damage they had done. This operation must be done right to keep people safe. There will absolutely be no shortcuts accepted.”
“Additionally, I have requested all relevant local authorities, including the Harris County Attorney and the Harris County District Attorney to investigate to the fullest extent of the law any criminal or civil liability Bluebonnet must face. There is a price to pay for putting people and the local environment in danger. Cutting corners may save a few bucks, but if there is negligence, the costs incurred by the public will be paid back fully.”
"Harris County Public Health Services has advised all neighboring residents that utilize well water to use bottled water for all activities, including drinking, washing, cooking and bathing. Precinct 2 has visited the homes and are offering bottled water to any residents requesting it. Additionally, Harris County Flood Control District is constructing dams to prevent the possibility of materials further contaminating the flood control system."
