TPC spokesperson: Reported tower fall was actually impacted equipment
Published 10:32 am Monday, December 2, 2019
- A fire crew member works to contain fire resulting from Wednesday’s second explosion at the TPC Group chemical plant. (Courtesy of Jeree Powell) 11-27-19
A tower that reportedly fell Monday morning at the TPC Group Port Neches Operations plant was actually a different piece of equipment, a TPC spokesperson said.
The Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management posted on Facebook before 9:30 a.m. Monday, citing Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick, “Another tower just fell at the TPC plant — there is no cause for concern. The radius for all towers and their path to fall has been calculated and there is no threat to the public. All towers are expected to fall or be taken down. *NO threat to the public*”
TPC spokesperson Payton Keith said impacted equipment fell, and officials were working to confirm such impact.
“The situation is ongoing,” Keith said. “There are no offsite impacts. All emergency personnel have been accounted for. The event is still contained.”
An impacted distillation tower at the plant fell inside the fence line at approximately 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Two explosions occurred at the plant Wednesday, setting off fires that have been contained, among a long chain of events.
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
More by I.C.
