A large fire broke out at a petroleum processing plant in Shepherd, Texas, on Wednesday morning, injuring one worker and prompting a shelter-in-place order for residents within a one-mile radius. The plant, Sound Resource Solutions, produces solvents for glue and paint remover, and reportedly had a 1000-gallon propane tank and a four-inch natural gas main involved in the fire.
The injured worker was reportedly involved in a “freak accident” caused by a forklift incident and has been taken to Memorial Hermann hospital with second-degree burns to his arms and first-degree burns to his face. A representative from Sound Resource Solutions confirmed that all employees were accounted for, with only one suffering a minor injury and being treated for burns.
Flammable liquids, diesel, turpentine, and other chemicals were reportedly involved in the fire, some of which are known to be toxic.
The fire prompted evacuations at nearby schools, with 31 students from Wildwood Private School and students from Goodrich Independent School District being safely evacuated. A shelter-in-place order was also issued for residents in San Jacinto and Polk counties, as well as in the town of Livingston. Several school districts in the area placed their campuses on hold as a precaution.
Power outages affecting a portion of San Jacinto County were also reported, with 409 customers out of 14,614 losing power. The Texas Department of Transportation also closed US-59 from FM 1988 to Exit 451B, with detours set up for affected drivers. Additionally, FM 3278 was reported to be closed to traffic unless proof of residency was provided.
Multiple fire agencies responded to the incident, with ABC13 providing live coverage of the ongoing situation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.