NEW YORK, Oct 18 (Reuters) - An ethylene pipeline in the city of Port Arthur, Texas, belonging to Dow Chemical <DOW.N> ruptured and exploded Thursday morning, a spokesman for the Port Arthur Fire Department said.

He said crews had blocked the pipe and were waiting for the fire to burn out. A nearby crude butadiene pipeline belonging to Texas Petrochemicals <TXPI.PK> was also leaking.

None of the area refineries or other industrial installations had been evacuated. Residents downwind of the fire were asked to stay in their homes as a precaution, the spokesman said.

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