Explosion and fire at Texas chemical plant

Officials were investigating an explosion and fire on Wednesday at a chemical plant in suburban Houston that injured at least one person. It was not immediately known what caused the blast at the plant in the Houston suburb of Pasadena.

The injured person was taken to a hospital. The condition of that person was not immediately known.Local news broadcasts showed a large ball of fire during the explosion followed by large plumes of black smoke. The fire later appeared to have been extinguished.Officials briefly shut down roadways near the plant but later reopened them to traffic.

The facility is owned by INEOS Phenol and produces Cumene. That organic compound is used to make a variety of things, including herbicides and pesticides, cleaning products and auto parts.