MAY 29, 2015
SHERMAN, TEXAS
An explosion on Friday at the SemGas natural gas processing
plant on Plainview Road in Sherman resulted in a fire.
There was a pressure value that caught fire. Firefighters
weren't able to get to the fire because it was too dangerous. Authorities did
send in a drone to get a closer look.
Currently, the fire is still burning. "There was a
truck that was in there that was loaded with some of the fuel or whatever is
there, and it's an explosive hazard," Sherman Police Sgt. D.M. Hampton
said. "It's too dangerous to even get in there and see, they're going to
let the fire burnout before it's safe to go in."
Sherman Police and Fire began evacuating people from a one
mile radius around the plant. That was reduced to 1/4 mile around the plant,
and now, all evacuations have been lifted except for the handful of homes on
Plainview Road in the immediate vicinity of the SemGas plant.
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SHERMAN, TX
A fire caused after an explosion at a Sherman gas plant is
now out. Dozens of employees were evacuated Friday over fears there could be
more explosions.
People who live in a one mile radius of highway 1417 and Plainview Road were startled by firefighters knocking on their doors.
"You could hear all the fire trucks and sirens. And then I noticed they were coming down our street and they were announcing over the speakers for everyone to evacuate the area," homeowner Alanna Moon said.
Sherman firefighters arrived on scene at the SemGas Plant about 10:30 Friday morning after they said compressed natural gas caught fire.
"It's an explosive hazard. It's too dangerous to get in there and see. They're going to have to let the fire burn out before they go in," Sergeant D.M. Hampton said.
One man who lives right in front of the plant said he's happy he wasn't home at the time of the explosion.
"Well I was just hoping the house was still there and my dogs are okay," Nathan Mitchell said.
A woman driving along highway 1417 said she pulled over when she saw smoke bellowing above treetops.
"I noticed there were two columns of black smoke, and when I looked at that I realized that there might be something that didn't look right," Paula Guraka said.
The Sherman Fire Department set up a command station at Faith Church to help coordinate with all the agencies working the explosion.
"Fire departments getting help from different fire agencies to help block off areas, so that's what it's here to do. To make sure it's a coordinated effort," Hampton said.
So far there are no reports of any injuries.
The facility was cited by the Environmental Protection Agency in October of 2011 for violation of the Clean Air Act.
Inspectors said they found a release of an extremely hazardous substance, specifically Pentane.
The EPA said the company subsequently made the necessary corrections, and the facility was deemed in compliance at that time.
The EPA regional office in Dallas said they'll continue to monitor the facility here in Sherman to make sure it remains in compliance.
People who live in a one mile radius of highway 1417 and Plainview Road were startled by firefighters knocking on their doors.
"You could hear all the fire trucks and sirens. And then I noticed they were coming down our street and they were announcing over the speakers for everyone to evacuate the area," homeowner Alanna Moon said.
Sherman firefighters arrived on scene at the SemGas Plant about 10:30 Friday morning after they said compressed natural gas caught fire.
"It's an explosive hazard. It's too dangerous to get in there and see. They're going to have to let the fire burn out before they go in," Sergeant D.M. Hampton said.
One man who lives right in front of the plant said he's happy he wasn't home at the time of the explosion.
"Well I was just hoping the house was still there and my dogs are okay," Nathan Mitchell said.
A woman driving along highway 1417 said she pulled over when she saw smoke bellowing above treetops.
"I noticed there were two columns of black smoke, and when I looked at that I realized that there might be something that didn't look right," Paula Guraka said.
The Sherman Fire Department set up a command station at Faith Church to help coordinate with all the agencies working the explosion.
"Fire departments getting help from different fire agencies to help block off areas, so that's what it's here to do. To make sure it's a coordinated effort," Hampton said.
So far there are no reports of any injuries.
The facility was cited by the Environmental Protection Agency in October of 2011 for violation of the Clean Air Act.
Inspectors said they found a release of an extremely hazardous substance, specifically Pentane.
The EPA said the company subsequently made the necessary corrections, and the facility was deemed in compliance at that time.
The EPA regional office in Dallas said they'll continue to monitor the facility here in Sherman to make sure it remains in compliance.