HOUSTON—A fuel tank burned Thursday evening after an explosion near the Port of Galveston, City of Galveston spokeswoman Alicia Cahill said.
It all began around 7 p.m. with a loud explosion that could be heard three miles away from a property owned by Texas International Terminals. Thirty-five firefighters from the Galveston Fire Department responded to the three-alarm fire in the 4900 block of Old Port Industrial Road.
Fire officials said the tanks contained light crude oil. They were pouring water onto the tanks to keep them cool, while draining oil at the same time. Then they switched to using foam to battle the blaze.
A shelter-in-place was ordered for Texas A&M University at Galveston and the Pelican Island Causeway was closed due to the fire.
While the Galveston Fire Department responded to the tank fires, Texas City firefighters and off-duty Galveston Fire Department firefighters were taking care of the rest of the island.
Texas A&M campus police were blocking access on their side to the bridge and Galveston police were blocking their side at Harborside and 51st Street.
No injuries were reported.
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