ExxonMobil refinery fire in Beaumont – 12 workers injured

Local media outlets are reporting a fire at the ExxonMobil refinery in Beaumont, Texas has injured twelve workers. At around 10:30 a.m. today, Wednesday April 17^th, a fire broke out in a process unit that was down for maintenance at the time.  ExxonMobil states the fire was quickly controlled and is no longer burning. Injuries to twelve contract workers have been reported, six of those workers were transported to area hospital for medical attention. Three of the injured victims are reported as having suffered severe burns.  An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. The injured workers are thought to be employees of Signature Industrial Services.  Signature has an office at 9027 Blewett Road in Beaumont.

Local media coverage of the ExxonMobil refinery fire in Beaumont: ABC Channel 13 News, KHOU Houston, Channel 2 News Houston, FOX News Houston, Houston Chronicle, Beaumont Enterprise.

Update: I'm sad to be reporting that one of the contract workers injured at ExxonMobil has died from his injuries. Officials at UTMB Galveston confirmed the death of Dustin Creekmore yesterday.  Dustin died Saturday afternoon; as of Sunday April 28th, four workers remain hospitalized, two are in critical condition, two are listed as fair. According to ExxonMobil spokesperson Kathleen Jackson, officials think the fire broke out when hydrocarbons released from a heat exchanger were ignited while a processing unit was down for maintenance.

Daragh Carter

The sprawling ExxonMobil refinery in Beaumont, Texas

Dustin Creekmore
Photo credit: Facebook