Former Houston City Council member—and Harris County Judge candidate— Letitia Plummer is calling for more transparency from local and state agencies after a massive tire fire sent a towering plume of black smoke over Houston’s East End, even as officials say air quality readings remain below federal levels of concern.
“The people who live next to this site deserve to know what’s in the air they’re breathing right now, not next week,” Plummer said in a public statement. “I’m calling on the responsible agencies to publish real-time air monitoring results, clearly communicate with residents in both English and Spanish about any health precautions, & make the facility’s operator, permit status, and prior complaints public once the fire is contained.”
The fire broke out Monday at a recycling facility near Kellogg and Manchester streets in southeast Houston near the Ship Channel, sending thick clouds of black smoke across parts of the city. Hundreds of firefighters were dispatched to the scene to put out flames in a debris field roughly the size of a football field. Smoke from the fire remained visible for miles on Tuesday.
Despite the dramatic scene, Houston health officials say air monitoring data have not shown dangerous levels of pollution.
“At this time, the reading for dangerous particles in the air remains below the National Ambient Air Quality Standard level of concern, and no serious air quality concerns have been reported,” Houston Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Tran said in a statement Monday night.
Still, the disconnect between what residents can see in the sky and what officials say monitors are detecting at ground level has fueled concern across the East End. Chron has reached out to the Houston Health Department, Harris County Pollution Control and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for additional comment.
On social media, some Houstonians compared the scene to the infamous tire fire from The Simpsons. The reaction comes as Houston continues to grapple with its reputation for poor air quality, being named one of the most polluted cities in the U.S., according to a study from the American Lung Association. As a result, some environmentalists are encouraging concerned residents and former city leaders, like former council member Letitia Plummer, to call for additional transparency from officials.
Neighbors in the area remain especially concerned after fire officials told KHOU that Tuesday morning’s humidity could bring the smoke closer and have already made evacuation preparations.
“Harris County built real tools to monitor pollution and hold polluters accountable, and that work matters most on days like this one,” Plummer, the current democratic nominee for County Judge said. “The families on the fence line cannot afford county leadership that looks away.”