Large Fire Breaks Out at LyondellBasell Bayport Facility in La Porte

Two large fuel tanks burned Thursday night at LyondellBasell's Bayport Choate facility on the 10801 block of Choate Road in Pasadena, sending a substantial column of smoke and bright flame skyward and triggering a multi-agency emergency response across southeast Harris County. The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office confirmed an investigation is underway.

The La Porte Fire Department, Pasadena Fire Department, Channel Industry Mutual Aid, Harris County HAZMAT, Pollution Control, and Harris County OEM industrial liaisons were all reported at the scene. The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office was simultaneously dispatching its own hazmat team to the Choate Road site, which sits near Bay Area Boulevard in the corridor between Pasadena and La Porte.

Flaring was also reported at the facility alongside the fire. A Community Awareness Emergency Response alert issued Thursday characterized the situation and addressed nearby residents directly: "Operational conditions at the LyondellBasell Bayport Choate site, 10801 Choate Rd., Pasadena, TX. 77507 have resulted in flaring at the facility. Flaring is a safety and environmental control device used to manage and combust process materials. The community may notice a bright flame, smoke, or a rumbling noise during this time. You do not need to take any action. We are actively working to stop flaring quickly and safely. Our focus is to minimize inconvenience and protect the safety of the community, the environment, and our employees."

The La Porte Office of Emergency Management reinforced that message, stating no evacuations had been ordered and no shelter-in-place was in effect. Houston Transtar camera footage captured visible flaring and what appeared to be an active fire at the site.

The LyondellBasell Bayport Choate facility manufactures a range of industrial chemicals used in everyday products including paint, car parts, gasoline, shampoo, and antifreeze. The cause of the fire remained unclear in initial reports, and no injuries had been confirmed as of late Thursday night.