Juan Lozano

Associated Press

In this Sept. 1, 2017, file photo, smoke rises from the Arkema Inc. owned chemical plant in Crosby, near Houston, Texas.

2 Charges Dismissed Over Harvey Plant Fire

Organic peroxides made at Arkema's facility caught fire and exploded after the facility was overwhelmed by flood waters.

Leslie Comardelle, former Arkema manager in Crosby, listens during the Arkema Inc. criminal trial at Harris County Criminal Courthouse, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Houston. Arkema Inc., a subsidiary of a French chemical manufacturer, along with three senior staff members are on trial over a fire at the Houston-area chemical plant that was overwhelmed by Hurricane Harvey's flooding in 2017.

Plant Jeopardized Public Safety

He says Arkema’s actions were part of a long pattern of reckless behavior.

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Trial to Begin Over Chemical Plant Fire During Harvey

The blaze forced the evacuation of more than 200 residents.

This Jan. 24, 2020, file aerial photo shows the scene of an explosion that rocked northwest Houston. A company filed for bankruptcy Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, in the wake of a massive explosion at one of its warehouses in Houston that killed two workers, injured 20 more and damaged hundreds of buildings. Watson Grinding and Manufacturing said it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Houston federal court because of what it expects to be “a long-term interruption of business operations” due to the Jan. 24 blast.

Company Tied to Deadly Blast Files for Bankruptcy

The manufacturing company will try to reorganize as opposed to liquidating.

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña talks with Hortensia Lima, whose home was seriously damaged and deemed uninhabitable on Stanford Court in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the Friday morning explosion at the Watson Grinding Manufacturing plant.

Electrical Spark Likely Caused Deadly Warehouse Blast

Propylene gas was leaking inside the facility.

Maria Hernandez climbs her stairwell as she and her family worked to move their belongings out as they sifted through their damaged home in the Bridgeland Lane area of Houston, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the Watson Grinding Manufacturing explosion early Friday morning. Her ceiling, right, collapsed even further after overnight rains.

CEO Walks Back Pledge

He says it's premature to make any decisions.

Red 'danger' tape circles a damaged home on Bridgeland Lane in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the Watson Grinding Manufacturing explosion early Friday morning.

450 Structures Damaged by Houston Blast

The new total is more than double the initial assessment.

This aerial photo taken from video provided by KTRK-TV shows damage to buildings after an explosion in Houston on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. A large explosion left rubble scattered in the area, damaged nearby homes and was felt for miles away. A fire continues to burn and people have been told to avoid the area.

Warehouse Explosion Rocks Houston

Watson Grinding and Manufacturing makes valves and provides thermal-spray coatings.

In this Monday, March 18, 2019 file photo, Firefighters battle a petrochemical fire at the Intercontinental Terminals Company in Deer Park, Texas. A fire at a Houston-area petrochemical storage facility that burned for days in March was accidental and caused by equipment failure at a storage tank, according to a report released by local and federal investigators, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019.

Report: Texas Fire Caused by Equipment Failure

The failure took place within a piece of equipment that holds an electric motor and a pump next to the storage tank.

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Agency: No Alert System at TX Facility Damaged by Fire

A company that owns a Houston-area petrochemical storage facility that burned for days in March didn't have an alert system in place to warn of releases from its tanks.

Flames and smoke rise after a fire started at an Exxon Mobil facility, Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in Baytown, Texas.

Fire at Texas Refinery Injures 37

The Exxon Mobil facility processes light hydrocarbons including propane and propylene, materials used to make plastic and industrial products.

Series of Failures Led to Deadly Leak

Four workers died at the Houston-area chemical plant.