Undefeated Texas Refinery Explosion Lawyers
A large fire broke out Monday evening at the Valero Port Arthur Refinery in southeast Texas, prompting emergency response efforts and a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.
Explosion and Fire Reported at Valero Port Arthur Refinery
The incident was reported at approximately 7:22 p.m. on Monday, March 23. Witnesses described hearing a loud blast that rattled nearby homes, followed by visible flames and thick, dark smoke rising from the refinery.
Emergency responders—including fire crews and hazmat teams—quickly arrived on scene and are actively working to contain the fire. At this time, the cause of the incident remains unknown, and officials have not yet confirmed whether there are any injuries.
Shelter-in-Place Issued for Nearby Residents
As heavy smoke spread across the area, authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for residents on the west side of Port Arthur.
Air monitoring is currently underway to determine whether hazardous substances have been released. Residents are being urged to remain indoors until officials confirm that conditions are safe.
The Texas Department of Transportation has also advised drivers to avoid SH 87 and SH 82 near the refinery.
About Valero Port Arthur
The Valero Port Arthur Refinery is one of the company’s largest facilities, with a refining capacity of approximately 435,000 barrels per day and a workforce of around 770 employees. Located about 90 miles east of Houston, the refinery processes heavy sour crude oil—an inherently hazardous operation that demands strict safety protocols and constant oversight.
Unfortunately, incidents like this are rarely “accidents.” In our experience handling refinery explosion and fire cases, these events are often the result of entirely preventable failures—whether due to inadequate maintenance, unsafe procedures, or poor oversight.
The Port Arthur refinery itself has a documented history of serious incidents. In 2017, a major fire at the facility forced residents to shelter in place and released more than one million pounds of emissions into the surrounding community.
More broadly, Valero has faced a troubling pattern of refinery fires and explosions in recent years, including:
- A 2025 fire at its Three Rivers facility that left five workers with severe burn injuries
- A February 2026 fire at its Ardmore refinery that killed one worker and injured multiple others just weeks ago
Zehl & Associates currently represents a contractor injured in the Ardmore fire and is actively pursuing claims against Valero. When critical safety failures lead to devastating injuries or worse, we have the resources and experience to stand up to the largest petrochemical corporations in the world and hold them fully accountable—ensuring our clients recover the justice and full compensation they deserve.
What to Do After a Valero Refinery Accident
If you or a loved one were hurt in a Valero refinery accident or explosion, what you do in the first hours and days can have a lasting impact on your health and your ability to recover compensation.
Based on our experience representing injured refinery workers across Texas, we recommend:
- Seek medical attention immediately. Burns, inhalation injuries, and head trauma may not be immediately apparent and can worsen over time.
- Report the incident, but avoid speculation. Provide accurate information, but do not guess about what caused the incident or accept blame.
- Document everything. If possible, take photos, save communications, and write down what you remember as soon as you can.
- Preserve physical evidence. Keep clothing and any protective equipment worn during the incident in a safe place.
- Follow all medical advice. Gaps in treatment are often used by insurance companies to dispute injury claims.
- Understand your rights beyond workers’ compensation. Many refinery accidents involve third-party liability, which may allow for significantly greater financial recovery.
- Avoid social media. Even innocent posts can be misinterpreted and used against you.
Why Acting Quickly Matters
After a major industrial incident, companies and their insurers often deploy investigators and legal teams immediately to begin building their defense.
Having an experienced legal team involved early can help ensure that critical evidence is preserved and that your rights are protected from the start.
Valero Refinery Explosion Lawyers: 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consult
Our Undefeated Refinery Accident Lawyers are monitoring developments related to the Valero Port Arthur refinery fire and will post an update if any new information becomes available.
Having won billions in record-breaking verdicts and settlements—including the #1 Largest Burn Settlement in History—following the worst industrial accidents and explosions in recent history,
our refinery explosion attorneys have the resources and experience to take on big corporations like Valero and recover the maximum compensation possible for our clients’ injuries and losses.
If you have questions about the Valero Ardmore Fire Refinery fire, contact us today for a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Form.
All consultations are free, and you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.