Undefeated Houston Refinery Explosion Lawyers
People living and working near the Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery were ordered to shelter in place earlier today after a massive fire at the facility sent plumes of thick, black smoke into the air over Texas City, Texas.
Significant Damage to Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery
The fire erupted at approximately 12:25 p.m. at the Marathon facility located on 5th Avenue South, east of 25th Street South. While it’s not clear what ignited the blaze, video taken by local media outlets showed significant damage to the refinery even as crews worked to extinguish the fire.
According to Marathon, there have been no reports of injuries.
“Trained teams are responding to a fire at Marathon’s Galveston Bay refinery,” the company’s statement said. “At this time, there have been no reports of injuries and all personnel are accounted for, Air monitoring is being deployed in the community as a precaution. The safety of responders, workers and the community is our first priority as we respond to the situation.”
The Texas City Fire Department cautioned that the resulting smoke could significantly worsen air quality. A shelter-in-place order was issued for residents and businesses in the Galveston Bay area, between Highway 146 and Bay Street, and extending north of Marathon from 21st Street to Bay Street. However, the directive was lifted around 2:14 p.m.
The City of Texas City and the Texas City Office of Emergency Management are closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant agencies to ensure public safety.
History of Fatal Marathon Refinery Explosion in Galveston Bay
Located near the entrance to the Houston Ship Channel, Marathon’s Galveston Bay Refinery is one of the largest refineries in the United States. It currently processes 585,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) for use in gasoline, distillates, natural gas liquids, petrochemicals, heavy fuel oil and propane.
In March 2005, the same facility— then owned by BP— was the site of one of the worst refinery disasters in U.S. history – a series of devastating explosions that claimed the lives of 15 workers and injured more than 180 others. According to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), that disaster was triggered by an over-pressurized distillation tower that released a geyser-like surge of hydrocarbons from a vent stack.
In May 2023, one worker was killed and two others were injured when a fire broke out on one of the refinery’s three gasoline-producing ultraformers. The CSB’s subsequent investigation determined that the cause of that explosion was a leaking pump. Although the pump had been flagged for maintenance, Marathon had deferred maintenance in a bid to maximize production once gasoline demand rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic. Had the maintenance gone on as planned, a crack in the pump would have been discovered, likely preventing the tragedy.
In February of that same year, yet another Marathon worker was fatally electrocuted while setting up scaffolding at the Galveston Bay facility.
What to Do After the Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery Fire
If you or a loved one were hurt in connection with the most recent Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery fire, you can be sure the company and its insurance carrier are already working to deflect responsibility and avoid paying injured workers and their families all that they are owed. You’ll need to act just as fast to protect your health, your future, and your legal rights.
- Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine. Chemical exposure can cause serious internal injuries, lung damage, or delayed symptoms that don’t show up right away.
- Insist on seeing your own doctor, not one chosen by Marathon or its insurance company. You have the right to choose your own provider.
- Preserve physical evidence, including the clothes and gear you were wearing. Don’t wash them or throw them away—they could help prove the extent of your exposure.
- Follow all medical instructions carefully. Missing appointments or failing to follow treatment plans can give the company an excuse to challenge your injuries.
- Keep a file with all related documents, including medical records, prescriptions, time-off slips, emails with your employer, and any correspondence from the insurance company.
- Avoid posting on social media about the incident, your injuries, or your recovery. Anything you say can be used against you later.
- Don’t speak with Marathon’s investigators, lawyers, or insurance reps until you’ve consulted with a lawyer who handles refinery and chemical exposure cases.
- Don’t sign anything, especially settlement offers or medical releases, without having it reviewed by an experienced refinery explosion lawyer.
- Talk to an experienced refinery explosion attorney as soon as possible. The refinery’s legal team is already working to protect the company—you need someone working to protect you.
Marathon Refinery Explosion Lawyers with Billions Won: Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consult
Our Undefeated Houston Refinery Explosion Lawyers are monitoring developments related to the Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery fire and will post additional updates as information becomes available.
In addition to being Undefeated, our Texas Explosion Attorneys have won Billions for thousands of workers and families following the worst plant and refinery disasters in recent history, including:
- #1 Largest Individual Burn Settlement in U.S. History
- $75 Million Settlement for workers injured in a refinery explosion
- $85 Million Settlement for injured refinery contractors
- Largest verdicts and settlements in our opponents’ corporate histories
To learn more about our success representing injured workers and their families, visit our “Results” page or Click Here to see what our clients have said about their experience with our firm.
If you or someone you love were hurt in connection with today’s fire at the Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery, please call 1-888-603-3636 or click here to fill out our confidential contact form.
Your consultation is free and confidential, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case