A pipeline fire that burned in a Houston suburb for four days finally went out Thursday as authorities announced a criminal investigation into the blaze that had roared into a towering flame, forcing neighborhoods to evacuate and melting parts of nearby cars.

As of Tuesday morning, the fire caused by an exploding pipeline in a Houston suburb continued to burn itself out, according to officials.

Fire involving a pipeline carrying natural gas liquids must burn itself out, its operator said, which could take until Tuesday A massive pipeline fire sent a pillar of flame towering over some Houston suburbs on Monday as first responders evacuated a surrounding residential area and tried to keep nearby homes from catching on fire.