An explosion at a natural gas or oil well site in Texas sparked a massive fire visible from miles away, prompting evacuations but resulting in no injuries, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office reported receiving a flood of calls on Monday night regarding a significant explosion in Etoile, a rural community located approximately 140 miles northeast of Houston.
According to the sheriff’s office, the explosion occurred at an oil well site. However, the city of Nacogdoches, situated about 20 miles from Etoile, identified the site as a natural gas well, citing information from the Texas Department of Public Safety, city spokesperson Kevin Meyer explained on Tuesday.
Authorities recommended that some residents evacuate as a safety measure, while advising others to stay indoors. The exact number of residents impacted by these precautions remains unclear.
Although the fire continued to burn into Tuesday morning, it was contained and closely monitored, Meyer noted.
“Currently, there is no threat to local residents from the fire, and the air quality in the vicinity is under surveillance,” Meyer stated in a press release.
A well-controlled emergency response company from Houston was on its way to further suppress the fire, Meyer said.
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