In rural Texas on Wednesday, a substantial fire erupted at a chemical plant, casting a dense plume of black smoke into the sky and prompting authorities to close a local highway while ordering residents to seek shelter for several hours.

Officials issued a directive for residents residing within a one-mile radius of the chemical plant fire in Shepherd, as well as those in adjacent communities, to shelter in place for approximately five hours on Wednesday. This precautionary measure was eventually lifted early in the afternoon. Shepherd, primarily a rural area, is situated approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) northeast of Houston.

The incident occurred at Sound Resource Solutions, a company specializing in the recycling and repackaging of various chemicals, according to San Jacinto County officials. Preliminary findings from the investigation suggest that the explosion transpired when an employee observed a container leaking chemicals and attempted to employ a forklift to lift the container, resulting in ignition.

One employee sustained minor burns and was promptly transported to a hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition. Initial reports indicate that the chemicals involved in the fire were potentially flammable liquids, including diesel and turpentine.

By Wednesday afternoon, the fire had been successfully contained, as confirmed by San Jacinto County Emergency Management coordinator Emmitt Eldridge. Firefighting crews utilized two ladder trucks to deploy foam and extinguish the flames.

The solvents produced at the facility are integral in the manufacturing of glue and paint remover, as per the Polk County Office of Emergency Management. The agency cautioned that chemicals emanating from the plant could be toxic, causing eye and skin irritation. Following the fire, a substantial plume of smoke from the facility was visible in resident-captured videos.

Local authorities promptly instructed residents to shelter in place and advised them to turn off their HVAC air conditioning systems. These precautions were rescinded several hours later.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality committed to monitoring the air through Wednesday evening and initiating collaboration with the chemical plant's owner for site cleanup, as stated by agency spokesperson Ryan Vise. Post-fire control, the significant plume of black smoke dissipated, visible for miles. Local fire crews remained on-site Wednesday evening to monitor any potential flare-ups.

Of the 37 employees working for Sound Resource Solutions, 19 were on duty at the time of the explosion, according to Capers.

A private school with 31 children in close proximity to the explosion site was successfully evacuated through a pasture, and the students were subsequently reunited with their parents, as communicated by Capers.