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Three tanks of the Intercontinental Terminals Co. facility were re-ignited Friday afternoon, just two days after the initial fire extinguished that had lasted several days.
Friday's fire has complicated the clean-up efforts that have been under way since the first fire, which burned several tanks containing chemicals used in the production of gasoline. including xylene, naphtha and essence of pyrolysis, known as Pygas.
No serious injuries were reported as a result of a fire. The cause of the initial fire is under investigation and remained unchanged on Saturday morning, officials said.
Alice Richardson, a spokeswoman for Intercontinental Terminals, said some of the liquid stored behind the containment wall had been made Friday in the nearby Tucker Bayou.
The liquid contained a "mixture of product tanks that burned in fire, fire-fighting foam and water from our fire-fighting efforts," Richardson told reporters, adding that "efforts are underway to remedy Tucker Bayou".
Brent Weber, commander of operations at the scene of the incident, said the chemicals in the water were a mixture of those contained in the tanks before the fire broke out.
Representatives from several agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, are monitoring the situation to determine the environmental and risk implications for residents of Deer Park, near Houston .
"As soon as we find dangerous situations, we communicate it and communicate it to the community," said Adam Adams, EPA's on-site coordinator.
The US Coast Guard is also ready to participate in the Bayou and Houston Ship Channel cleanup efforts, which was closed Friday, Adams said. The chain will be reopened as soon as security is restored, according to Captain Kevin Oditt of the Coast Guard.
Officials said the cause of the breach was not yet known, but the containment wall is secure and efforts are underway to strengthen it.
The three tanks are relighted around 15:45. CT Friday, officials said, and the fire spread to some of the liquid that had escaped through the breach and was snapped up in a nearby drainage ditch. The fire was extinguished after almost an hour.
Residents express health concerns
A group of concerned residents gathered Saturday afternoon at an event organized by local lawyers, seeking legal advice.
Dozens of residents sought answers to questions about the value of their property or business. But most expressed concerns about the potential consequences for their health and that of their loved ones.
"We still do not know if one or the other of us will be fine," said Steve Michaels, a long – time resident of Deer Park, "or there 's will have a long-term effect. "
"I do not know if the value of my property has simply dropped," he added. "I do not know if my soil is contaminated, we do not know if we can drink anything that comes out of it."
Kaylee Hartung, CNN's Nicole Chavez, Dave Alsup and Hollie Silverman contributed to this report.
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