Texas Oil Refinery Explosion Sends Plumes of Smoke into the Air
By Thao Nguyen, Julia Gomez, USA TODAY
An explosion at Valero’s Port Arthur refinery on March 23, 2026 generated a large smoke plume and led officials to issue a shelter‑in‑place order, though no injuries were reported.
Crews have extinguished a fire at a Texas oil refinery after a large explosion sent plumes of smoke into the air and prompted a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents, officials said Tuesday, March 24.
The explosion occurred on the evening of Monday, March 23, at a Valero refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, a coastal city about 90 miles east of Houston, the city said in a statement. Local officials immediately issued a shelter-in-place for residents on the west side of the city “to ensure the safety of all residents in the vicinity in light of the recent explosion at the Valero refinery,” according to the statement.
Images and video posted online showed moments after the explosion as smoke plumes and flames billowed into the sky. The blast could be heard as far as 11 miles, people familiar with the plant operations told Reuters.
Valero Energy Corporation confirmed that there was a fire in a unit at the Port Arthur refinery and said all personnel had been accounted for. No injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident, Port Arthur Mayor Charlotte Moses said in a video update on Facebook.
“The fire has been extinguished and has been put out,” Moses said in the video on March 24. “I’m thankful because it could have been worse. It could have been much worse, but we thank God it wasn’t.”
The cause of the blast was not known, but it was not believed to be a deliberate act aimed at damaging the refinery, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Valero Energy said in a statement to USA TODAY that the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
“No, we’re not investigating it as that,” said Donta Miller, chief deputy for the sheriff’s office, when asked if there was any evidence of a deliberate act aimed at damaging the refinery.
USA TODAY has contacted the Port Arthur Fire Department for more information.
Shelter-in-place order lifted
Several areas near the scene were placed under a shelter-in-place order after the explosion, according to local officials. The city had urged residents to remain inside their homes until an “all clear” was issued by emergency personnel.
In another video update on March 23, Moses said firefighters were at the scene working to extinguish the fire. The fire was a result of the explosion at the 47,000-bpd unit 243 diesel hydrotreater, according to Reuters.
The shelter-in-place order was issued to ensure air quality had not been impacted by the explosion, according to Valero Energy. The order was lifted by 6 a.m. local time after monitoring showed no concerns.
Report: Valero Energy temporarily shuts Texas refinery after explosion
People familiar with the plant operations told Reuters that Valero Energy had completed the temporary shutdown of the oil refinery in Port Arthur on March 24. No date has been set for reopening.
Shutting the refinery was seen as necessary to extinguish the fire, Reuters reported. The refinery lost water supply and steam as firefighters tried to put out the blaze.
Diesel hydrotreaters use hydrogen to remove sulfur from motor fuels during their production to comply with U.S. environmental rules. The oil refinery in Port Arthur is Valero Energy’s largest complex.
Explosion comes as gas prices climb
Oil, gasoline, and diesel prices have surged since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.
As of Tuesday, March 24, the national average was $3.97 a gallon, according to AAA. Just a month ago, the average was $2.95.
The refinery in Port Arthur processed about 435,000 barrels of oil a day and turned heavy sour crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, according to Valero’s website.
