An oil well owned by a Plano-based company caused an explosion in Etoile and prompted evacuations and road closures as officials manage the ongoing threat.
NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, Texas — An oil well site explosion and fire in the Etoile area Monday night caused evacuations and shelter-in-place orders for several residents.
According to the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 11:15 p.m. to find a large fire burning near the Etoile area while traveling through the Woden area. Deputies found an oil well site had exploded and was on fire in the 15000 block of FM 226.
Oil well site workers were evacuated from the scene with no injuries.
In an update, Nacogdoches County officials said the site was contained Wild Well Control out of Houston will handle the fire suppression efforts. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will monitor air quality conditions.
Three homes were evacuated on County Road 5061 and those residents are being told to stay away until further notice. Further evacuations are not expected.
Drivers should avoid the area in order to keep important roads open as large equipment moves in for fire suppression efforts on FM 226.
Etoile Fire Chief Andy Sanders said that around 3:20 a.m. an oil derrick collapsed. Twenty-six people were all accounted for. He also said the air quality is fine.
Nacogdoches County Judge Greg Sowell said he’s heard the well is burning and it is stable. He says it will continue to burn for several more days before getting extinguished.