Fire at Texas oil refinery creates huge smoke plume

An explosion at the Valero refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, prompted authorities to warn some residents on the city’s west side to shelter in place.

Flames and a large plume of smoke were seen rising from the refinery after the incident, which Sheriff Zena Stephens said was likely caused by industrial heating, according to local CBS affiliate station KFDM.

Valero said in a statement to CBS, the BBC’s US news partner, that no injuries had been reported and all staff had been accounted for.