Massive chemical fire leads to evacuation in Bryan area

Bryan/College Station is a popular stomping ground for Leon County residents, representing our nearest shopping mall, movie theaters, selection of restaurants, etc. We were watching with interest, therefore, when a toxic blaze at a fertilizer plant near Bryan spawned a mass evacuation of the area last Thursday, July 30.

Fire broke out in the El Dorado Chemical Plant Health just west of Bryan on Highway 21 about noon and soon a black cloud of potentially toxic smoke covered much of Bryan. The plant processes the toxic chemical ammonium nitrate, so health officials ordered a precautionary evacuation of a 250-275-sq-mile area that included residences in Bryan and part of College Station -- roughly 72,000 people. A portion of State Highway 21 was closed, and the Texas A&M University campus was closed, as well.

A&M students were not evacuated. Evacuees were, in fact, taken in at Texas A&M’s Reed Arena and at several schools in College Station.

The Buffalo Press’ own Linda Smith had headed to Bryan for shopping on her day off, but that was not to be. “I got my first clue when I got to Hastings. There was a sign on the door CLOSED DUE TO EVACUATION. At that point traffic was getting crazy. Stores were closed and even the Walmart parking lot was empty. I did not see the fire or smoke, but my eyes began to burn, and my throat and nasal passages were burning.” After spending the night at her daughter’s home, Linda also reported a headache and feeling somewhat nauseated.

Dr. Eric Wilke, Director of Emergency Medicine at the College Station Medical Center, was quoted as saying that most people who had limited exposure to the fumes might experience some irritation to their eyes and throat, but added that more exposure could cause significant lung problems. Area hospitals did treat several dozen people for smoke inhalation and other ailments possibly related to the fire.

For most of the affected area, the evacuation order was lifted after the fire was brought under control on Thursday night. By Friday afternoon, all evacuations had been cancelled.

The four employees working at the plant warehouse at the time of the fire were not injured, but the building was destroyed. Initial investigations into the cause of the fire indicate that welding may have sparked the blaze. Company officials issued an apology for the inconvenience caused by the evacuation, but most residents would acknowledge "better safe than sorry". In 1947, an ammonium nitrate explosion in Texas City killed 576 people and 5,000 more injured in what is considered one of the country's worst industrial accidents.