A dramatic pipeline fire continues to light up the sky near Houston, and police say the blaze was started by a car crash.

A massive pipeline fire sent a pillar of flame towering over some Houston suburbs on Monday as first responders evacuated a surrounding neighborhood and tried to keep more nearby homes from catching on fire.

"The fire continues to burn itself out this morning, which is the safest way to manage the incident," the City of Deer Park said.

The city of La Porte said it has slightly reduced the evacuation area south of the pipeline fire, but did not say how many people were affected.

A pipeline fire that began after an SUV struck a valve for a liquid natural gas pipeline near Houston continues burning Tuesday after damaging houses, melting vehicles, and leading to the evacuation of 100 homes,