Houston pipeline fire burns for a fourth day in a row

pipeline explosion
Photo credit Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP

A pipeline fire that forced hundreds of people from their homes in the Houston suburbs is burning for a fourth day, with officials saying they don’t expect it to be extinguished until sometime Thursday evening.

Officials say people who had to evacuate were allowed to return to their homes last night.

Energy Transfer is the Dallas-based owner of the pipeline. The company says the fire was an accident caused when a driver went off-road and hit a pipeline valve. It says the fire is now much smaller.

The underground pipeline carried natural gas liquids through the suburbs of Deer Park and La Porte. The company and local officials say welders are installing specialized pipeline isolation equipment to help extinguish the fire.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP