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Nacogdoches County oil well explosion (Source: Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office)
NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, Texas – An oil well explosion in Nacogdoches County triggered late-night evacuations and road closures Monday, though officials report no injuries were sustained in the blast.
East Texas oil well explosion
What we know:
The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office said dispatchers received numerous reports of a loud explosion in the Etoile area at 11:17 p.m. Arriving deputies discovered a well site on fire in the 15000 block of FM 226.
Nacogdoches County oil well explosion (Source: Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office)
Responding units reported seeing the glow of a large fire from as far away as Woden, several miles from the scene.
Authorities confirmed that all workers at the site successfully evacuated and no injuries have been reported. As a precaution, residents living on County Road 561 were ordered to leave their homes.
Sheriff’s officials have requested that residents on County Roads 560, 559, and 5591 either shelter in place or voluntarily evacuate. While representatives from the oil well site told investigators they do not believe there is further danger to the public, the Sheriff’s Office cautioned that the situation remains fluid.
What they’re saying:
“This is a fluid situation and could change quickly,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Residents who remain in the area should be on notice and ready to evacuate if needed.”
FM 226 is closed until further notice from Highway 103 to the Kingtown area. Officials expect the roadway to remain shuttered through Tuesday morning.
The closure is expected to impact school transportation. Parents of children in the Woden Independent School District are encouraged to monitor the district’s official channels for updates regarding affected bus routes.
Multiple first responder agencies remain on the scene to monitor the fire and manage the perimeter.
The Source: Information in this article is from the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office.