|
Residents within
a 2-mile radius were ordered to shelter in place as live TV
footage showed thick smoke billowing from the chemical
warehouse.
"We have not been advised of any injuries," said an official
with the police department in Conroe, about 40 miles (64 km)
north of Houston.
A dispatcher with the police department confirmed that the fire
followed explosions at the plant on Friday afternoon.
The dispatcher later said the fire appeared to be under control.
Broadcaster KHOU reported the fire appeared to be under control
by evening.
DrillChem provides drilling products including lubricants and
sealants, according to its website. A representative of the
company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"The facility was empty at the time of the fire and we are
thankful that no injuries have been reported," Brandon Hayes,
CEO of DrillChem, said in a statement. "We are working closely
with local authorities to determine the cause of the fire and
assess the extent of the damage."
(Reporting by Houston Bureau and Jon Herskovitz in Austin,
Texas; Writing by Eric M. Johnson; Editing by Sandra Maler and
Nick Macfie)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
