Crews work to make repairs near pipeline fire site in Deer Park 4 days after explosion

DEER PARK, Texas (KTRK) - Four days after a pipeline fire forced people in Deer Park and La Porte to leave their homes , crews are starting to make repairs near the blast site.

The video above is from a previous report.

On Friday, La Porte officials said Spencer Highway was reopened, but lanes closest to the pipeline grounds remain closed.

The update comes after human remains were found inside a car at the site. Officials believe the SUV crashed into a valve, sparking the dayslong fire.

Energy Transfer, the company that owns the pipeline, said the fire stopped burning on Thursday around 6:30 p.m.

READ MORE: Deer Park pipeline explosion exposes potential security flaws: 'Just a fence'

Investigators have launched a criminal investigation as they wait to learn the identity of the person whose remains were found, adding that it would take some time before more information is released.

City officials said most residents who were evacuated have returned back home.

Still, some homes are too damaged to stay in, if not from the flames, from the water firefighters used to keep the fire from spreading.

Melted cars and shutters and destroyed playground equipment still remain.

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