Blast Triggers Fire at Plant
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HOUSTON — An explosion at a chemical plant that could be heard 20 miles away caused a huge fire and sent up massive clouds of smoke Friday. No injuries were reported.
Several tanks and a building were on fire at the Marcus Oil & Chemical plant, but officials did not know what caused the explosion or what was in the tanks.
Streets were closed off around the plant, but there were no evacuations.
The three people on duty at the plant were not near the explosion, officials said.
Lenny Ogle, the manager of a gas station half a mile away, said the explosion shot flames about 75 feet in the air.
“It shocked the whole neighborhood,” Ogle said.
“First it was the explosion, and then it was the fire and then another explosion.”
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