BAYTOWN, Texas — Officials said a leak may have contaminated soil and water near a Baytown chemical facility after a fire on Dec. 10.
Baytown Fire Department hazmat crews remained on scene Tuesday to monitor the cleanup efforts.
The fire department said the drinking water for the City of Baytown was not affected by the incident. Four homes near the facility on Main Street, just south of Hunt Road, had well water. Officials were testing the wells and awaiting results.
Editor's note: The video at the top of this article is from a previous report.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a statement posted to X Friday night there was a fire at Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions on Dec. 10. The fire was also reported on the Environmental Protection Agency 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.
Hidalgo said there was no reason for concern outside of the neighborhood immediately near the facility. The EPA 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.
The cause of the fire was unknown. The EPA said the containers that were on fire were glycol ethers and other unknown chemicals.
Hidalgo said that the facility was storing chemicals without a permit in unlabeled containers.
Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions could not be reached for comment.
Harris County Precinct 2, Harris County Pollution Control, Harris County Flood Control District, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality were also supervising or assisting in the cleanup.
Read Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions' full statement:
"Baytown, TX- The Baytown Fire Department is currently assisting Harris County Public Health and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on the scene of a chemical spill at Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions near Main and Hunt Roads.
"The Baytown Fire Department responded to a fire at this location earlier this week. After the incident was cleared, it was discovered that two chemicals were leaking at the property into a drainage area. Harris County Public Health and other supporting agencies were called in to investigate and test private water wells in the immediate area. The Baytown Fire Department Hazmat crews are assisting with cleanup efforts and the City of Baytown’s Public Works teams are assisting with containing the chemicals. More information will be provided when it becomes available."
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."