The Galveston County Daily News reports the power disruption happened about 6:50 p.m. Thursday when crews from the Texas-New Mexico Power Co. had to shut down its Cherokee substation in Texas City to fight a fire there. The disruption prompted emergency flaring at the Valero, Marathon and BP refineries in Texas City. The glare from the flaring and the resulting columns of black smoke were visible across Galveston County.
Fire crews in Texas City and adjacent La Marque performed street-by-street air monitoring. Texas City Homeland Security Coordinator Bruce Clawson said no hazards were detected outside plant sites and no injuries were reported.
The refineries were working on backup power.
