Texas Chemical Plant Explosion Triggers Massive Fire, Injures One and Prompts Evacuations

Chemical plant explosion at Sound Resource Solutions in Shepherd, Texas could have been caused by "forklift accident"; exact impact of toxic chemicals released in air still unknown.

A massive explosion at the Sound Resource Solutions chemical plant in Shepherd, Texas, resulted in a huge fire on November 8, 2023. The plant primarily deals with the recycling and repackaging of various chemicals, including acids and solvents.
The fire reportedly started due to a 'forklift accident', leading to the release of a large plume of smoke and prompting evacuations in the surrounding areas. The exact nature and impact of the chemicals released into the air are currently unknown.
Residents within a one-mile radius of the plant were advised to stay at home, a measure initially extended to a five-mile radius. A private school close to the plant was evacuated, and Highway 59 was closed off.
One employee sustained minor injuries in the blast and is being treated for burns. The plant had a total of 19 employees on duty during the incident, all of whom have been accounted for.
Emergency services and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are monitoring the situation, specifically the spread of smoke, which depends on wind direction, and potential air toxicity. Preliminary investigations indicate that chemicals involved in the fire were flammable liquids.