(Photo: AIR 11)KHOU.com staff
August 14, 2015
CONROE, Texas -- A series of explosions triggered a huge 3-alarm fire at the DrillChem plant in Conroe Friday afternoon.
The first explosion was felt around 4:40 p.m. at the plant on Loop 336 near Hwy 105, according to Conroe police.
A shelter was in place for anyone within a two-mile radius of the plant but has since been lifted.
Firefighters advised residents to turn off their air conditioners and keep doors and windows closed.
"Small explosion and then thirty seconds later it was huge. I mean black smoke just came like crazy," said Julie Reagan, a Conroe resident. "It just totally shook our windows and shook the doors, the cabinets inside my home. The dogs went crazy," she added.
An explosion and fire was reported at a chemical plant in Conroe around 5 p.m. Friday. (Photo: KHOU 11 News)
Police shut down nearby roads, but South Loop 336 has since been reopened as of 8:30 p.m. Friday evening.
More than 50 firefighters were on the scene, along with a Hazmat team from The Woodlands.
They didn't start putting foam on the flames until just before 6 p.m.
The crews were likely letting the fire burn down in case hazardous chemicals or materials were involved, according to Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams.
"Sometimes the best plan of attack may be not any attack at all," Williams said. "They don't want to do anything to endanger firefighters."
Officials were also initially concerned if anyone was possibly inside the building at the time.
"They tell us that the last employee left for the day at 4pm. The gates and doors were locked when we arrived," said Conroe Fire Marshal Mike Legoudes.
The fire appeared to be under control by 6:15 p.m. No injuries have been reported.
DrillChem is an oil industry supply company that creates sealants, shale inhibitors and lubricants, according to their website.
There is another oilfield service company that also uses the same name however, this company is located in Corpus Christi, Texas.
This company, Drill Chem, LLC is not affiliated with the DrillChem company located in Conroe, according to James Cashion, Vice President of Drill Chem, LLC.
A shelter in place has been issued in east Conroe after an explosion caused a huge fire at a DrillChem plant. KHOU