SPRING BRANCH EXPLOSION

HOUSTON – An electrical spark ignited a propylene leak at a Spring Branch business last week and caused an explosion that damaged more than 400 surrounding buildings, officials said Friday. Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said propylene began leaking from one of the tanks at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing sometime between 1 a.m. last Thursday and 1 a.m. last Friday. ATF investigators said they believe an electrical spark that is a normal part of any electrical system ignited the leaking gas. There is no indication that arson, sabotage or vandalism was involved in the blast, ATF investigators said. Houston police Chief Art Acevedo said patrols of the affected neighborhoods will continue and there have been no reports of looting in the area.

HOUSTON – Lawyers representing the residents who are suing Watson Grinding and Manufacturing filed a restraining order to prevent the city from cleaning up any evidence from a blast that left two people dead and hundreds of homes damaged beyond repair. The lawyers presented their order to a judge at a hearing Thursday morning where they asked for the street to be kept as is in order for them to conduct their own, independent investigation without compromising any critical evidence. To the lawyers’ surprise, the city fought that order in Thursday morning’s hearing, but ultimately the temporary restraining order was granted to continue blocking a portion of Steffani lane, which sits adjacent to the site of last week’s explosion. Mohamed Aziz, who is representing the Frank Flores family, said that he, Kwok and several other lawyers in the courtroom were surprised by the city’s push back. “It is ridiculous the city won’t help us or even help the investigation," Aziz said.

Many people want to know what type of chemicals can be found in their neighborhood.

HOUSTON – A massive explosion rocked northwest Houston early Friday, shaking many people in the Spring Branch neighborhood out of their beds. The blast was reported about 4:20 a.m. at Watson Valve Services near the corner of Gessner and Clay roads. Residents who live near the epicenter said windows were blown out of their homes. Most will look back on this day never forgetting the vast damage, the neighborhood will never be the same. Investigative reporter Mario Diaz exclusively toured a damaged home along with local officials:See what residents are saying about the explosion in these videos.

HOUSTON – An early-morning blast at a northwest Houston machining and manufacturing company Friday killed at least two people, according to officials. The blast happened around 4:20 a.m. at a business near Gessner Road and Clay Road. Some debris from the blast landed nearly half a mile away from the explosion site, Police Chief Art Acevedo tweeted. Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, the site of the explosion, sustained significant damage. Photos of the northwest Houston business show the exterior before and after the massive blast.

Friday morning’s explosion at a Houston machining and manufacturing company is burning propylene into the air. Authorities had initially stated that the chemical was polypropylene but later corrected themselves and said propylene is the chemical that was burning following the explosion. Propylene can be used as an alternative to propane for heating and cutting “due to its superior combustion performance,” according to Linde-gas.com. Chemical and plastic industries also rely on propylene as gas. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, propylene can also be used to manufacture a variety of resins, fibers and elastomers - synthetic polymers that have elastic properties.

HOUSTON – At least two people were killed in an early-morning explosion at a business in northwest Houston, according to officials. Damage at the site of the explosion:Explosion in northwest Houston (KPRC 2)Damage caused by early-morning explosion (KPRC 2)Damage from blast (KPRC 2)Image of damage caused by early-morning explosion in northwest Houston (KPRC 2)Damage from the blast (KPRC 2)Explosion damage (KPRC 2)Damage from explosion (KPRC 2)Damage from explosion (KPRC 2)The blast happened around 4:20 a.m. Friday morning. (KPRC 2)Damage to homes and businesses in the area:Damage inside a home in northwest Houston (KPRC 2)Damage inside a home in northwest Houston (KPRC 2)Damage to a home in northwest Houston (KPRC 2)Damage to a home in northwest Houston (KPRC 2)Damage to a home in northwest Houston (KPRC 2)A garage door is seen damaged at a home in northwest Houston after an explosion that rocked the area Jan. 24, 2020. (KPRC 2)A KPRC 2 viewer shared these photos of damage to a home in northwest Houston. (KPRC 2)A KPRC 2 viewer shared these photos of damage to a home in northwest Houston.

HOUSTON – An explosion rocked northwest Houston awake early Friday morning. Video shared by a KPRC 2 viewer from their doorbell camera showed a flash followed by a plume of smoke at the time of the blast. Another video shared by a viewer recorded audio of the explosion. A Nest camera at a different home also recorded the sound of Friday morning’s explosion. Spring Branch Independent School District officials said they anticipate transportation delays for students in the area.

The explosion happened around 4:20 a.m. at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing located at 4525 Gessner Road. History of the business: It was founded as a grinding shop in 1960 by James Watson. In 2013, OSHA fined Watson Valve for 2 violations the agency categorized as “serious.” Watson paid a fine of $8,316. In 2008, another “serious” OSHA violation resulted in a fine of $5,250. Failure to ensure that employees who carry heavy loads wear steel-toe boots is an example of a serious violation.