HOUSTON— Authorities say a drop in water pressure caused a large fire at a Houston-area petrochemicals terminal to intensify overnight and spread to additional storage tanks.

The Deer Park Office of Emergency Management says the fire spread early Tuesday to two additional tanks, bringing to eight the total number of tanks overwhelmed by flames at Intercontinental Terminals Company in Deer Park, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Houston.

Two of the tanks were empty but the others contain components of gasoline and materials used in nail polish remover, glues and paint thinner.

The water pressure later normalized and authorities say the fire could continue to burn for at least another day.

Students returned to classes Tuesday but outside activities will be restricted as the fire continues to emit a huge plume of smoke that can be seen for miles.

 

WET WINTER BODES WELL FOR WATER SUPPLIES ALONG RIO GRANDE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some ski areas are touting an “endless winter” as forecasters say the snow that has fallen along the New Mexico-Colorado border bodes well for cities and farmers that rely on one of North America’s longest rivers.

Climatologists and hydrologists with the National Weather provided a water supply outlook Tuesday for the basin that feeds the Rio Grande, which flows from the Southern Rockies to Texas and Mexico.

They say snowpack in the mountains that form the river’s headwaters is about 135 percent above median levels, marking one of the best seasons in years.

Still, they say the region is recovering from months of extreme drought and it will take time to replenish the soil with moisture. That will affect how much runoff makes its way to the river this spring.

 

3 NATIVE AMERICAN INMATES WIN RIGHT TO LONG HAIR IN TEXAS

BEEVILLE — Three male Native American inmates in Texas will be allowed to grow their hair long as an expression of their religious beliefs after winning a lawsuit against the state prison system.

The Houston Chronicle reports that a federal judge’s ruling last month only affects the three inmates at the McConnell Unit near Beeville, but their arguments could apply to future lawsuits involving any of the more than 5,000 Native American prisoners in the state.

The inmates’ lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice argued that Native American spiritual beliefs regard hair as an extension of the soul.

Attorneys for the state argued that allowing male prisoners to have long hair hinders inmate identification and could present a suicide risk.

The state is considering an appeal.