Sept 16 (Reuters) - A pipeline fire broke out in La

Porte, Texas, on Monday morning, the city's Office of Emergency

Management said, knocking out power to thousands of homes and

businesses and prompting nearby evacuations.

Videos posted by a local news station showed a massive flame

near streets and businesses.

It was not immediately clear who owned the pipeline or what

it was carrying.

CenterPoint said the fire was not related to its

natural gas operations or equipment. Over 5,000 CenterPoint

Energy ( CNP ) customers were without power, according to a posting on

the company's website.

"When it is safe to do so, our electric crews will go into

the area to assess the damage to our transmission and

distribution power lines, poles and equipment and begin

restoring service to impacted customers as safely and quickly as

possible," the company said.

A nearby Walmart ( WMT ) store was evacuated and closed

following the incident. Students attending schools near the

scene of the fire were safe and sheltering in place, the La

Porte Independent School District said.