No injuries reported in massive industrial fire at Century Industrial Coatings Inc. near Jacksonville, Texas
CHEROKEE COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -
An industrial business that caught fire Wednesday morning south of Jacksonville is now under control, according to law enforcement at the scene.
Sometime around midnight, Century Industrial Coatings erupted into a massive blaze, with explosions waking up residents south of Loop 456.
"There were several explosions you could see them on the other side of town traveling southbound. The sky was lit up and there were mushroom clouds, these were the mineral spirits that were exploding," said Jacksonville Fire Chief Keith Fortner.
A nearby business evacuated 32 employees from its building around 3 a.m. due to the danger posed by changing wind direction, but no homes in the area were evacuated. The business, Say, was allowed to resume operations Wednesday. The fire at the plant also caused a grass fire nearby.
Dozens of first responders and fire crews from Cherokee, Smith, Rusk, and Anderson counties were called to the scene to assist. A small portion of the building is still burning, though the blaze is under control.
A command post was set up at Southland Feed and Supply store, about a mile from the fire, to coordinate the emergency response of departments from Gallatin, Jacksonville, Rusk, Bullard, Tyler, Palestine, New Brumsfield, and Reklaw.
A haz-mat team was at the scene to assist with cleanup. There are a number of minerals and chemicals housed in the building, but Jacksonville Fire Chief Keith Fortner says anything in the air is not a health concern at this time.
All southbound lanes and one northbound lane of U.S. Highway 69 have been re-opened between Farm to Market Road 22 to Loop 456.
No injuries were reported. Some crews have been sent home to make for a less cluttered situation around the scene.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
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AUGUST 12, 2015
JACKSONVILLE, Texas (AP) -
Investigators say nobody has been hurt in an overnight fire and explosions at a paint-related industrial plant in East Texas.
Authorities are trying to determine what sparked the fire early Wednesday at Century Industrial Coatings Inc. near Jacksonville. Officials say the fire was brought under control by about dawn.
Jacksonville Fire Department Chief Keith Fortner says several explosions happened as the fire produced flames visible throughout the city.
Hazardous materials crews were helping with cleanup at the company, which manufactures paint and coatings. Law officers were rerouting traffic in the area.
Jacksonville is a city of about 15,000, located 100 miles southeast of Dallas.