Tower Collapses Due to Fire at Petrochemical Refinery

A fire erupted at BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals refinery in Port Arthur, TX on Tuesday morning, which caused the collapse of a tower, reported local 12News.

Employees were evacuated following the fire and the collapse of the tower.

The Port Arthur Fire Department responded to the fire at about 11:15 a.m. according to Port Arthur Fire Chief Greg Benson.

Just over an hour later, at 11:55 a.m., the extractive dissolution tower tower collapsed. 

Following the collapse of the tower all employees not directly involved in dealing with the fire and tower collapse were evacuated.

The refinery notified the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of the fire soon after.

AMF Materials and Services next door also had to evacuate, said the company's owner.

The fire was contained by 1:30 p.m. and the company is investigating the cause of the fire and subsequent tower collapse.

No one was injured and all employees have been accounted for, said Vitanza.