EAGLE LAKE — The large plume of smoke at the Rice Medical Center in Eagle Lake has been identi- fied as a recently controlled release of oxygen in a storage tank.
The Rice Medical Center issued a community notice that it is in the process of replacing its bulk oxygen tank and that the remaining oxygen in the old tank was safely released into the atmosphere.
The plume of smoke, which is visible white vapor, was created by a very cold liquid oxygen mixing in with warmer air.
There was no threat or danger to the community or the environment, and the hospital remains open and operating normally, according to Rice Medical Center.
