Texas chemical plant explosion sparks shelter in place

The explosion erupted at a petroleum processing plant, but the cause is not immediately clear

A chemical plant explosion and fire sparked a large shelter-in-place order in Texas.

Smoke and flames engulfed the chemical plant on FM 1127 in Shepherd on Wednesday morning, San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management announced. The immediate cause of the fire was not immediately clear.

One individual was sent to the hospital this morning after suffering from “minor burns”; this person is in stable condition, an emergency management office official said. The explosion occurred at 8.17am at Sound Resource Solutions. Officials did not explain how they plan to extinguish the flames.

The Precinct 2 Constable of San Jacinto County said the explosion erupted at a petroleum processing plant.

“At this time, the effects of the chemical in the air are unknown,” Polk County Emergency Management Office told NBC News.

Clips posted on social media show ominous gray clouds of fumes barreling through the air.

“At this time a private school located on FM 1127 has been safely evacuated,” San Jacinto County Emergency Management Office wrote, urging other residents within a five-mile radius to shelter in place. Livingston Police Department also advised residents to shelter in place and to turn off their air conditioning units.

Highway 59 is also closed due to the plant explosion. As of 10.30am local time, the shelter-in- place advisory had been reduced to residents within a one-mile radius, the office said.