SAN JACINTO COUNTY, Texas — Firefighters from 18 departments in four counties have put out the massive chemical plant fire at Sound Resource Solutions in Shepherd, Texas, the San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management said.
The fire on FM 1127, approximately 75 miles northeast of Houston, started with an explosion that happened at 8:17 a.m. and it burned for hours.
There was a shelter-in-place for residents in a one-mile radius that was lifted nearly 7 hours after the explosion.
Single northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 59 reopened by 6:30 p.m., TxDOT said, but expect delays until all lanes reopen.
Sound Resource Solutions president Geoff Harfield said the explosion was caused by a "forklift incident." An individual working on a forklift noticed chemicals leaking from a container and when he went to lift the container up, he noticed a fire.
The small company has a total of 40 workers but only half of them were on site when the explosion happened. One worker was injured and had to be taken to a nearby hospital, but the good news is that person was expected to go home Wednesday afternoon, according to Harfield.
“He’s with the right people and they’re taking care of him. He’s doing good – he was worried about us, so he’s doing good," Harfield said. "He’s going to be home with his family this evening, so that’s good news – everyone’s accounted for and everyone’s going to be OK."
All of the other workers were accounted for.
Thirty-one children who attended nearby Wildwood Academy had to be evacuated.
State and federal agencies are involved in this investigation.
“We think the worst of this is gone – we’ll now work with people like the TCEQ, the EPA and we’ll make sure any remediation work that needs to be done is going to be done in the right way so that there’s no effect on the community that we’re loved for 14 years," Harfield said.
Officials were asked about reports that several residents complained of a "chemical smell" on Tuesday.
"That was a multi-jurisdictional area report that chemicals were being smelled from San Jac all the way down to Polk County and Onalaska," an OEM employee said. "We believed, at that time, it was more than likely a truck driving through the area."
He said fire crews in Polk, San Jacinto and Liberty counties investigated and found nothing.
Fire crews remained at the site of the chemical explosion overnight to monitor for any potential flare-ups.
You can watch the latest update from officials in the video below:
What is Sound Resource Solutions?
According to its website, Sound Resource Solutions is an industrial chemical manufacturing company whose focus is on blending, repackaging, distribution and logistics. The company produces about 30 truckloads of product each day, according to Harfield.
Harfield said employees work in a dangerous environment, handling a variety of oils, solvents, acids and alcohol products.
We looked into records with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and learned the company has zero workplace violations. We also looked at records with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and we found in 2022, Sound Resource Solutions released about 7,000 pounds of xylene, which is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor that can irritate the eyes, nose, skin and throat if exposed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Live updates on plant explosion in Shepherd, Texas
5 PM -- Southbound lanes of U.S. 59 have reopened. Northbound lanes remain closed, San Jacinto County sheriff says.
3:17 PM - Shelter-in-place lifted.
1 PM - Sound Resource Solutions president Geoff Harfield gave an update on the fire and said it started as a forklift incident. He also said the person injured in the fire will be released this evening. Officials are expected to give another update at about 4 p.m.
12:18 PM - A KHOU 11 viewer caught these scary moments on video showing people running from the scene of the plant explosion on FM 1127.
11:30 AM - San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers and the president of Sound Resource Solutions, Geoff Harfield held a press conference. They said the call for the explosion came just after 8:15 a.m. One employee suffered minor burns and was being treated at a Houston hospital. Also, 31 children were evacuated from Wildwood Academy private school.
Harfield said the chemicals that were burning were common chemicals that can be found under a kitchen sink and nothing toxic. They will provide more information at another update at 1 p.m.
Watch their full update below.
11:06 AM - KHOU 11's Jason Miles is on the scene and shared this view from the staging area. We are expecting an update soon from officials.
10:52 AM - Goodrich ISD has evacuated on the advice of Polk County Emergency Management Services. They have arrived at Onalaska ISD. Parents and guardians may pick up their children at 1855 FM 3459, Onalaska, at the junior/senior high school stadium. Please bring a photo ID.
10:45 AM - The San Jacinto County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office said they are in the process of getting the city of Shepherd Community Center for those who need it from FM 1127.
10:41 AM - The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management shared this image of the plume. They are providing support to San Jacinto County. There is no danger to Montgomery County residents at this time from the fire and smoke in the air.
10:40 AM - Shepherd ISD said they are not evacuating at this time.
10:35 AM - The Office of Emergency Management said the shelter-in-place order has been reduced to a one-mile radius.
9:57 AM - The Tyler County Emergency Management Office said Rockland, Chester, and Colmesneil are in the path of the plume of smoke from the plant explosion. A shelter-in-place has been issued for these communities. Stay indoors. Keep windows closed and heat and air turned off.
9:50 AM - Video from a neighbor off FM1127 shows a huge plume of black smoke at Sound Resource Solutions.
9:24 AM - US 59 in San Jacinto County is closed from FM 1988 to Exit 451B due to a chemical fire on FM 1127. Prepare for delays or choose alternate routes. Updates will follow.
9:19 AM - The Office of Emergency Management said there was a plant explosion on FM 1127 in Shepherd. At this time, a private school located on FM 1127 has been safely evacuated. All other residents living in a five-mile radius around this location should shelter in place at this time.