Flames, smoke at Houston-area chemical plant for a 2nd day


              The Goodyear Chemical Plant is shown in this aerial view Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Beaumont, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The Goodyear Chemical Plant is shown in this aerial view Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, in Beaumont, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

HOUSTON (AP) - Thick black smoke and towering orange flames shot up after two trailers of highly unstable compounds blew up at a flooded Houston-area chemical plant.

Friday's fire was the second there in two days.

Arkema says Harvey's floodwaters engulfed its backup generators at the plant in Crosby and knocked out the refrigeration necessary to keep the organic peroxides, used in such products as plastics and paints, from degrading and catching fire.

Arkema executive Richard Rennard said two containers caught fire Friday evening, and that there are six more it expects will eventually catch fire.

Arkema spokeswoman Janet Smith said that the company expects the rest of the containers will ignite "within a matter of days."

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