Energy Transfer has shut down a portion of a natural gas liquid (NGL) pipeline in La Porte, Tex., that caught fire Monday morning, Sept. 16.
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) pipeline safety inspectors are investigating the fire and will work with state and local emergency responders at the scene, the agency said in a release Monday afternoon.
According to local media and the City of La Porte, the fire started around 9:55 am CDT at Spencer Highway near East Boulevard.
A statement to media from Energy Transfer said an incident at a valve station along Spencer Highway for a 20-in. NGL line resulted in a fire. The operator said the line has been isolated so the residual product can burn itself out, but could offer no timeline on how long the process would take.
"There are no reports of injuries at this time," the statement said, noting that the LaPorte Fire Department is on the scene and homes and businesses within a half mile of the incident site have been evacuated.
Energy Transfer went on to say it was aware of "early reports indicating that an unknown passenger car entered our right-of-way and struck the valve location." Further details were not provided.
Air monitoring equipment is being set up in the area, the company said, and it will continue to release details as they become available.
