TEXAS CITY, Texas (KTRK) — A thick column of smoke rose over Texas Metropolis as firefighters labored to place out a serious fireplace at a decommissioned energy plant, in accordance with officers.
The hearth burned on the PHR Peakers plant on the 5500 block of Freeway 146, simply contained in the Texas Metropolis limits, in accordance with Kemah police. The Galveston County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned that the incident was first reported round 2:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.
Images from the scene confirmed the constructing nonetheless smoking whereas a number of fireplace engines labored to manage the flames.
Officers mentioned that the Texas Metropolis, San Leon, Pearland, League Metropolis, La Marque, Alvin, Webster, Santa Fe, and different close by Galveston County fireplace departments collaborated to place out the hearth all through the morning. The GCSO added that the San Leon Volunteer Fireplace Division initially led the response.
Photographs captured by an ABC13 crew from Freeway 146 present the smoke plume rising over the Texas Metropolis sky and blocking the solar throughout a large construction fireplace.
A public security alert was issued to cell gadgets within the space, urging residents to keep away from smoke circumstances. Whereas residents who spoke to ABC13 expressed concern that embers would possibly prolong to close by neighborhoods, Texas Metropolis firefighters have said that air monitoring has proven the air high quality to be secure.
In an announcement, Galveston County Decide Mark Henry mentioned residents ought to “keep away from the realm for their very own security and permit for first responders to proceed working to place the hearth out.”
In accordance with Matthew Wyatt, Assistant Chief of the Texas Metropolis Fireplace Division, the flames grew rapidly as a result of lack of a water provide on the property.
Officers said that no pure fuel or electrical energy is coming into the property, because the plant has been decommissioned.
Jason Brown, a fireplace marshal with the TCFD, mentioned that the reason for the hearth won’t be investigated till it’s totally out.
SkyEye video shot later within the morning confirmed a number of constructions, reportedly cooling towers, that had utterly burned down.
The smoke from the hearth was so thick that ABC13 Meteorologist Kevin Roth might see it on the 13 Alert Radar because it drifted northeast over Galveston Bay.
ABC13 Meteorologist Kevin Roth noticed the smoke plume on 13 Alert Radar because it unfold northeast throughout Galveston Bay on Sunday morning.
ABC13
ABC13 is working to collect extra particulars as this story develops.
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