PASADENA, Texas – The fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon was ruled as accidental after a liquid petroleum gas explosion occurred at the INEOS cumene production facility in Pasadena.
 

Pasadena firefighters and crews from the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office responded around 11:45 a.m. to the possible explosion that occurred at INEOS, which is located in the 3500 block of Pasadena Freeway.

During a news conference, authorities said the explosion occurred while liquid bulk trucks were delivering raw materials, specifically liquid petroleum gas (LPG), to the facility. LPG is the mixture of propylene and propane, a raw material used in the production of cumene... and cumene is an intermediate chemical used to produce phenol, which is a refined product used to produce everyday consumer goods and construction materials.

During the offloading of the LPG, INEOS officials said the gas ignited a spark, causing an explosion.

INEOS said its team immediately contacted first responders and rendered aid, and the fire was officially extinguished at 1 p.m.

One person, the driver of a third-party bulk truck, was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in stable condition. Officials said all other staff members at the facility were accounted for.