- Firefighters were battling a massive pipeline fire near Houston on Monday, forcing nearby residents to evacuate as flames shot high into the sky.
- The fire started at 9:55 a.m. in LaPorte, about 25 miles southwest of Houston.
- About 1,600 customers were without power in Harris County because several power lines were close to the fire.
Firefighters were battling a massive pipeline fire in suburban Houston on Monday that burned grass, scorched utility poles and forced residents to evacuate the surrounding area as a huge pillar of flames rose high into the sky.
The fire started at 9:55 a.m. in LaPorte, about 25 miles southwest of Houston.
Footage from KTRK-TV showed damage to a park near the scene of the fire and firefighters spraying water on adjacent homes and businesses, including a Walmart.
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LaPorte spokesman Lee Woodward said in an email that authorities had ordered residents in the Brookglen neighborhood, near the fire, to evacuate.
In this photo, the downtown skyline at sunrise in Houston, Texas, on August 25, 2018. Firefighters battled a massive pipeline fire that raged near Houston on Monday, causing grass fires and burning utility poles, forcing nearby residents to evacuate as a huge pillar of flame rose high into the sky. (Lauren Elliott/Getty Images)
“Please avoid the area and follow police instructions. We will provide more information as it becomes available,” Woodward said.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.
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There are several power lines near the fire site. About 1,600 customers are without power in Harris County, according to the website PowerOutage.us.
