Monday morning this week, residents in Garland, Texas were blasted awake by huge explosions from the nearby Sherwin-Williams plant. The explosions, which can be seen on this report from NBC 5 News in Dallas-Fort Worth, took place just before 1:30 a.m. Shortly after, 16  firefighting units arrived on the scene and spent several hours trying to get the flames under control. Roadways around the plant were closed, causing some trapped tractor trailers to sit idle.

The report also noted a chemical smell permeated the area. The news station featured a witness quoted as saying that the sky was lit up with a “fiery red-orange glow,” and that the air smelled a lot like “what paint smells like when you paint a house.” The blast was so intense that some people came from five miles away to check out what happened.

An article published by Reuters stated that the one employee injured in the blast was taken to a hospital for treatment and then released. It also quoted company spokesperson Julie Young as saying that there were no other injuries and fortunately no fatalities. The company suspended production at the facility after the explosion; Young said that when the fire department was ready to allow Sherwin-Williams employees back on the premises, they would “assess the impact this event will have on our ability to continue operations at this site and the potential environmental impacts." 

According to the NBC report, a hazardous material team arrived to investigate the site and determined that evacuation of the local area was not necessary, but the anchor reported that nearby residents were advised to stay in their homes or if possible, to leave the area on their own accord. 

Environmental concerns grow

Along with air quality, the water runoff was being tested for possible contaminants getting into the surrounding water supply. According to a report on Fox 4 News.com, foam retardant from the plant’s fire suppression system found its way into the surrounding waters, with many area residents posting photos of dead fish in these waterways. Authorities are working to remove the foam and have warned nearby residents against fishing or wading into these affected waters.

According to a report from news station WFAA, cleanup could take weeks. The article noted that cleanup crews have constructed dams to pump water out of the affected creeks, and while the city has not issued warnings regarding sanitation or drinking water, authorities will continue to monitor the situation and will let people know if that changes.

Many residents reported feeling their homes shake as a result of the blast; a worker in a facility next to the plant said he felt particles from the ceiling falling around him, and being only about 150 feet from the explosion, he worked quickly to get himself and his co-worker to safety.

The cause of the blast has yet to be determined. This story is ongoing, and information may have been updated since publication. Photo courtesy NBCDFW.