By Erika Hernandez
08 Nov 2023, 1:18 PM EST
An explosion caused a large fire in a chemical plant in Shepherd, Texas, which generated huge columns of black smoke into the sky that forced the authorities to issue a shelter order for those who were in the vicinity of the place.
The “plant explosion” and subsequent chemical fire occurred Wednesday morning, the agency said. San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management on Facebook.
The fire prompted the evacuation of a private school at 1127 Farm-to-Market Road and officials issued a five-mile shelter-in-place warning.
The agent of San Jacinto County Precinct 2 said that The affected building was an oil processing plant.
Highway 59 is closed due to the explosion and locals are urged to use alternative routes.
The Polk County Office of Emergency Management noted that The plume of smoke from the explosion was heading towards the Livingston area and advised locals to shelter in place and turn off HVAC systems in homes and businesses “immediately.”
“At this time, the effects of the airborne chemical are unknown,” Polk County officials said.
Similarly, the Livingston Police Department urged its residents and businesses to shelter in place and turn off air conditioning systems until further notice.
Following evaluation of the plant fire scene, the shelter-in-place order was reduced from a five-mile radius to a one-mile radius.
The Polk County Office of Emergency Management later said the affected plant harbors chemicals known to have “acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity, and may cause serious eye damage or irritation, skin corrosion or irritation, danger aspiration and organ toxicity.
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