After burning for nearly four days, the Deer Park pipeline fire went out Thursday night. Officials have also announced a criminal investigation has been opened after human remains were found in a vehicle near the fire’s origin.
Roughly 12 hours before the fire was extinguished, the flames were contained enough to allow the removal of a white SUV. Authorities have confirmed the vehicle caused the fire after it crashed through a fence and struck a pipeline valve. ABC News Houston captured video of crews attaching a winch to it and pulling it onto Spencer Highway around 7 a.m. Thursday.
While the Harris County Medical Examiner processed the vehicle, human remains were recovered and removed, a Thursday morning update says . Authorities say the identification process may “take some time.”
“This has developed into a criminal investigation and will be actively ongoing until further information is available,” the statement continued. “This is all of the information that will be released until the full investigation has concluded.”