Fire erupts at Exxon’s Baytown, Texas plant, at least four taken to hospital

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A view of the Exxon Mobil refinery in Baytown, Texas September 15, 2008. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi/File Photo

(Reuters) -Three people were flown to hospital and a fourth taken by ambulance when a fire erupted on Friday at Exxon (NYSE:XOM)’s Baytown, Texas refining and petrochemical complex, which houses a chemical plant, an olefins plant and a 560,500 barrel-per-day oil refinery.

“Our fire teams are working to extinguish the fire. We are conducting personnel accounting,” Exxon said.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) that three people were evacuated by Lifeflight rescue helicopter and a fourth person was taken by ambulance.

Initial reports indicated there had been some type of explosion the plant, he said. There were no reports to evacuate or shelter-in-place at the moment, the sheriff added.

The Baytown police department said the plant unit affected in the incident processed material with gasoline components.

Sources familiar with the Baytown complex operations said the fire was in the Baytown olefins Plant but said no more details were immediately available.

Social media users said on Twitter that a blast shook buildings in the area.