In Texas, a massive fire at a petrochemical storage terminal in Deer Park, near Houston, has reportedly been extinguished in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after raging since Sunday, releasing a thick plume of smoke that blanketed large swaths of the surrounding area. Nearby schools were closed earlier this week, and residents were advised to limit outside exposure. Bryan Parras of the Sierra Club said, “We’re living through an ongoing petrochemical disaster, and the government response is … that the poison we can smell and taste for ourselves isn’t harming our health and our children. Officials needs to be honest with the public … ITC needs to be held accountable and the regional public officials need to take a serious look at the Chemical Disaster Risk that exists along the Houston Ship Channel and prioritize the health and well being of surrounding communities.”