A significant fire is currently raging at a recycling facility located on Rolke Road in Dayton, Texas. The blaze was first reported on Tuesday evening around 6:30 p.m., prompting emergency response teams to act swiftly.
As of Wednesday morning, the shelter-in-place order issued for local residents has been officially lifted. Schools in Dayton are set to resume normal operations.
Liberty County Fire Marshal Nathan Green provided updates on the situation, assuring that air quality monitoring in the surrounding neighborhoods has revealed no hazardous conditions. He reported that 14 fire departments from four different counties are collaborating in the firefighting efforts. The operation is transitioning from volunteer teams to a private firefighting contractor called in by the recycling company.
Green explained that the smoke plume observed on Wednesday morning primarily consists of steam generated from the water being applied to the fire. He noted that the fire originated from a large pile of materials roughly the size of a football field, which includes various metal household items such as refrigerators and washing machines.
Firefighters have been working continuously to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjacent piles. Green anticipates that crews will remain on-site throughout the night to ensure the fire is fully extinguished.
Earlier updates indicated that a shelter-in-place was necessary for residents in a triangular area bordered by US 90, SH 99, and FM 1960. Residents were advised to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, and turn off their air conditioning units until further notice. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported in connection with the fire.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary.
