Chemical Fire at Mississippi Transformer Plant Forces Evacuations

A large chemical fire sent towering flames and dense black smoke over a manufacturing site in Laurel, Mississippi, on Monday, prompting an employee evacuation and a major response from fire crews across the county, local outlets reported.

The blaze erupted at a Howard Industries facility after a paint booth caught fire near a tanker truck carrying an explosive material, Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee told local media.

Workers were cleared from the building as fire departments from across Jones County rushed to the scene, according to WDAM-TV. By 8 p.m. local time, crews had largely brought the fire under control.

Footage shared on social media showed flames tearing through part of the facility while heavy smoke climbed into the sky and fire trucks moved into position.

Several powerful booms were heard as bystanders fled the area and firefighters worked close to the flames, WAPT-TV reported.

“Everybody’s gotta leave,” Brandon Herford Brewer, who shared one of the videos online, could be heard saying as the scene unfolded.

Brewer described the heat as unbearable as he prepared to leave the area.

“My face is melting,” he said. “It’s Howard industry and I’m about to get out of here. I am sweating down.”

Brewer later said the building had been cleared and everyone had gotten out.

Howard Industries makes electrical transformers, including the equipment utilities use to get electricity to homes and businesses. The company says its Laurel plant covers about 2.3 million square feet.

Officials urged people to avoid the area, warning that traffic could slow firefighters and put workers and first responders at risk.

It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured or how much damage the fire caused.

Officials did not immediately release more information.