Explosion leads to fire at chemical plant

DEER PARK, Texas – An explosion and fire were reported at a Deer Park chemical plant.

Officials said the level-three emergency happened at the Akzo Nobel polymer chemicals plant in the 700 block of Independence Parkway at about 1 p.m. on Monday.

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Plant officials said there was an explosion in a unit that produces butyl ethyl magnesium, a component used to produce plastic.

The company was not sure how many people were in the unit at the time of the explosion, but one contract worker was hurt. He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital. His condition has not been released.

The Deer Park and La Porte fire departments were initially called out to help, but the plant's in-house fire department was able to handle the blaze itself.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

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