Flames pulsed as high as 150 feet in a massive pipeline fire on the Citgo property on Refinery Row in Corpus Christi on February 17. The pipeline is owned by a third party, according to Citgo. No injuries were reported. Courtesy photo
Officials are monitoring the air after a massive pipeline fire on the Citgo East campus of Refinery Row in Corpus Christi. The fire, which began at about 8:30 a.m. Monday, February 17, caused a power outage and stopped traffic for two hours on Interstate 37 at Buddy Lawrence Drive. Three schools and the neighborhoods that include Navigation Boulevard at Baldwin Avenue and Leopard and Baldwin streets, were ordered to shelter in place.
People climbed on the roofs of houses to get a better view of the 150-foot flames as they pulsed from a ruptured pipeline. Customers of a nearby Valero said they could feel heat coming off the fire from the other side of Interstate 37.
One structure and six pickup trucks were burned, but no injuries were reported.
The pipeline is owned by a third party, according to Citgo officials. The city of Corpus Christi is investigating the fire, including who owns the pipeline and how it could have possibly ruptured, City Manager Peter Zanoni said.
The fire burned for about 90 minutes before it was put out by firefighters using water and foam. The shelter-in-place order was lifted from Oak Park Elementary, Driscoll Middle School, and Miller High School at about 10:30 a.m. The interstate was reopened for traffic at about that time.
Flames were extinguished at 10:45 a.m., according to Corpus Christi Assistant Fire Chief Doug Matthijetz. A Corpus Christi Port Industries’ Refinery Terminal Fire Company also assisted in fighting the fire.
