A fire that started at a natural gas pipeline in Texas and was struck by a vehicle was extinguished and contained Thursday, the city of Deer Park said.
A car struck the Energy Transfer pipeline on Monday, sparking the fire that sent a geyser of flames into the air and prompted evacuations of nearby homes, officials said. That burned vehicle and human remains were found Thursday, the city said.
“This has evolved into a criminal investigation and will continue to be an ongoing investigation,” said the government of Deer Park, a city of about 34,000 people about 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of Houston.
Evacuation orders were issued for nearly 1,000 homes and businesses in La Porte, just east of Deer Park.
The fire broke out around 10 a.m. Monday morning and Energy Transfer reported the fire was extinguished Thursday evening, Deer Park said.
Police are investigating the incident, the city said. Most residents were able to return to their homes and businesses, the city said.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
