Clouds of black smoke erupted from a Texas crude oil refinery last Monday, shaking nearby homes and prompting city officials to issue a shelter-in-place order for the west end.

📍Port Arthur, Texas
🗓️ 3/23/2026

Officials reported that all personnel were accounted for and no injuries were reported. The Jefferson County Sheriff suggested that the explosion may have been linked to a mishap with a heating unit. This facility employs over 700 workers and produces more than 435,000 barrels of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel daily. Could THIA have prevented this fire?

Please share your THERMAL EVENT with us! The goal is to learn from each other in an attempt to become ATAD-Safer®. 🇺🇸

To learn more about this thermal event, click the link below. 

https://nypost.com/2026/03/23/us-news/massive-explosion-at-crude-oil-refinery-rocks-texas-city-as-residents-told-to-shelter-in-place/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=mail_app