An evacuation has been lifted and residents can return home following a large industrial plant fire Thursday night in Tyler.
The concerned areas included FM 724 from County Road 1147 to 1151. The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office said the evacuation request was voluntary and noted it was lifted around midnight Friday morning. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality conducted air monitoring and did not detect any dangerous levels overnight.
Multiple departments are worked to extinguish the fire, which started at a plant near Highway 64 West and Toll 49 near the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.
Emergency officials asked residents to evacuate if they were in the area of County Road 1147, to Farm-to-Market 724, north to County Road 1151. The county also said if residents had smoke in their area, they needed to evacuate. A shelter opened at Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church, located at 417 CR 1143, for evacuees. Smith County sent an emergency ipaws alert to residents in the area.
According to Smith County, the commercial fire was at a plastic grounding and oil product refining plant, which caused hazardous smoke. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
No injuries have been reported. “We are very thankful for that,” said Nikki Simmons, Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2 spokesperson.
Motorists were asked to turn around and find alternate routes of travel.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 6:22 p.m. and were expected to remain on scene fighting the fire for several hours. Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2, Lindale Fire Department, City of Tyler Fire Department and Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office responded.
The county fire marshal’s office will investigate this incident.
There is a large industrial fire across from the Tyler airport and residents of County Road 1151 are asked to evacuate. (CBS19/Contributed Photo)