Dow plant fire caused more than 2 tons of chemical emissions, report says

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An “unexpected facility upset” sparked a large fire at a Dow Chemical’s plant in Freeport Monday and was projected to release more than two tons of chemical emissions by Wednesday night, according to a report filed with the state environmental regulator.

The fire broke out Monday night at Dow’s Plant B but was limited to the facility’s 2300 block of N Brazosport Boulevard. The blaze triggered flames visible for miles and a large plume of smoke. It was contained later that night and caused no injuries, according to the company.

Many area residents shared photos and videos of the fireburst to social media, calling it “huge” and “scary.”

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A report with initial emissions estimates that Dow filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the “upset” also caused flare outages, the interruption of a key system plants typically use to burn off hazardous gases and avoid catastrophic incidents.

The fire triggered over two tons of estimated chemical pollution. Emissions calculated by the company based on its process data included 1,553 pounds of ethylene, 1,140 pounds of octene, 892 pounds of 2-hexene, 434 pounds of carbon monoxide, 378 pounds of octane and 217 pounds of nitrogen oxide.

Nearly half of those emissions leaked directly from pipes in units where the company uses a temperature-controlled process to turn ethylene gas into plastic.

The emissions began at 7:03 p.m. Monday night and could last until Wednesday night, according to the report. The company said in a statement that the fire itself had been contained four hours after it began.

Dow representatives did not immediately respond to request for comment about the emissions report.

This article originally published at Dow plant fire caused more than 2 tons of chemical emissions, report says.