On June 14, 2025, at 2:30 PM, the EPA was notified by the National Response Center (NRC) of a fire at the Blanchard Refining (PRP) facility, in Texas City, Texas. The fire started at 11:06 AM and resulted in the release of 8,500 pounds of Sulfur Dioxide into the atmosphere. A shelter-in-place was immediately ordered by the Texas City Fire Department and was lifted at 2:20 PM. The fire is contained and the facility response team and TCFD are continuing firefighting activities. The PRP reported that no perimeter air monitoring exceedances were detected at the facility. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
EPA personnel arrived on-site to assess the incident and response efforts, which included conducting community air monitoring. There were no detections of the measured airborne contaminants above the incident-specific community action levels.
The Texas Commission for Environmental Quality is responding to the incident and performing roving community air monitoring. On June 14, TCEQ reported no exceedances above their action levels.
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