BASF TotalEnergies is utilizing advanced technology, including robots and drones, to investigate a recent fire and partial tower collapse that forced the shutdown of plant operations on Tuesday, September 5.
The company is committed to swiftly resuming production while ensuring the safety of its employees. Robots and drones have been deployed to conduct investigations, eliminating the need to place workers in potentially hazardous conditions.
During the morning of September 5, a fire erupted in the pyrolysis gasoline unit at the BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals facility in Port Arthur. At approximately 11:45 a.m., the pyrolysis tower tragically collapsed, prompting an immediate response from emergency personnel.
As a precautionary measure, all employees not directly involved in firefighting were evacuated shortly before 12:30 p.m. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all employees were safely accounted for.
The Port Arthur Fire Department, under the leadership of Chief Gregory Benson, provided mutual aid, deploying a ladder truck with a 100-foot extension to assist with the incident.
BASF has taken steps to control and suppress any lingering hot spots by employing water overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday.
While investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, nearby businesses, such as A.M.F. Materials and Services, have been attentive to the emergency situation. A.M.F. General Manager Jesse Erwin confirmed that their workers were safely evacuated upon observing the situation and the subsequent return to work was only authorized when the Sheriff’s Office deemed it safe.
Robust surveillance camera footage from A.M.F. Materials and Services captured the tower collapse, providing valuable information for the investigation.
Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick also conducted personal on-site visits to the BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals facility on the day of the incident and the following day, underscoring the significance of this event.