TEXAS CITY, Texas -- A shelter-in place put in effect Tuesday night after several explosions sparked a huge fire at a Texas City refinery was completely removed Wednesday morning.

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Explosion Rocks BP Amoco Plant

Regulatory agencies began investigations Wednesday into the Tuesday night explosion and fire at the BP Amoco chemical plant, located at 2800 F.M. 519 E.

Fire crews were called to the plant around 6:30 p.m. after several blasts rocked the Houston Ship Channel-area petrochemical complex in Texas City. Officials said the fire started in a furnace.

Bruce C. Clawson, the Texas City emergency management director, said the blaze was fueled by naphtha, a petroleum feed stock used at the refinery.

Clawson said an internal investigation was also under way, following a heightened security alert from recent reports from the FBI and industry groups that refineries in this area might be targeted by terrorists.

"That was one of our first concerns" with the blasts, Clawson told the Texas City Sun in Wednesday's editions. "But there is no indication of that, none at all."

No one was injured.; however, 10 people reported to Mainland Center Hospital complaining of exposure, said spokesman Harold Fattig. He said a decontamination area had been set up in case dangerous chemicals had been released into the air.

The fire was contained by 9 p.m. and completely extinguished by 11 p.m.

BP spokeswoman Annie Smith said operations resumed late Tuesday.

Nearby plants were evacuated as a precaution, while Texas City and La Marque residents were asked to stay in their homes. The level 4 shelter-in-place order was downgraded to a level 2 by 10 p.m. and completely removed by Wednesday morning.

The causes of the explosions and fire are not yet known.

Plant officials said no chemicals were released.

Neighbors Shaken By Blast

The blast could be heard for miles, as the flames lit up the sky.

Residents heard the explosions before seeing the fireball.

"We saw the flames, which were pretty high … seems to be pretty serious," said Matt Lynth, a resident.

"The first thing that came to my mind was the terrorist threats," said Annita McGinnes, a resident. "I've lived in this area long enough to know that it could be that, but it's just as easy that it could be just a valve that blew."

When the warning sirens sounded, some residents grabbed their families and left the area.

"It felt like an earthquake at first," said Celia Perez. "And I ran out and said, 'An explosion, an explosion. Oh my God.'"

Perez and her family left their apartment, which is located across the street from the BP plant.

"We didn't have gas. We didn't have (any) money. We didn't grab (anything) -- just the kids," she said.

"There was a big explosion and then right after that, three more came. It was like broad daylight. That's how bad it was," said Jackie Escamilla, who worked across the street from the plant. "When I was working over here, all the windows started rattling."

Some neighbors ignored the shelter-in-place to see the fire firsthand. They were quickly shaken by the sight.

"I opened my door and it was just a big old flame over here," said Sharita Greer, a resident. "So I ran for my kids and got out of here."

Several streets around the plant were closed, so motorists were advised to avoid the area.

The blasts prompted an early ending to high school baseball and softball action between the Texas City Stings and the La Marque Cougars. Texas City's junior varsity baseball team, which had been in La Marque for a game, sheltered in place at the student center at College of the Mainland.

Some College of the Mainland evening classes were dismissed.

News2Houston's chief meteorologist Frank Billingsley said a light northwest wind carried the smoke away from Texas City and toward the Gulf.

The Texas City refinery is the largest of BP's four refineries in the Houston area. It has the capacity to refine 435,000 barrels of crude oil daily.