An explosion at a west Houston manufacturing company rocked residents across the city early Friday.
No fatalities have been reported at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, but one worker is unaccounted for, Police Chief Art Acevedo said.
The Houston Police Department tweeted just after 4:30 a.m. they were responding to an explosion near the 4500 block of Gessner. On social media, HPD warned all traffic to avoid a hot zone between Gessner, Genard, Sefani and Clay Road.
“Please avoid this area and do not let curiosity get the best of you,” Acevedo tweeted, just before 5:30 a.m. No evacuation has been issued.
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Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña said in an interview that one patient had been transported to a hospital and that firefighters were assessing others, but that the blaze was not a multiple alarm fire.
Peña said the explosion originated from a warehouse at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, a machining and manufacturing company, at 4525 Gessner. Firefighters were on scene, and had taken one civilian to a hospital.
A hazardous materials team was on site investigating a chemical explosion.
CyFair ISD has closed Bane Elementary and Dean Middle schools, the district said. Students at other schools will remain indoors due to air quality concerns. At Spring Branch ISD, students will be kept indoors as well, officials there said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the company about $8,000 in 2013 for violations related to the control of hazardous energy and wiring problems, records show. It was inspected again in 2015 and no violations were found.
The company’s most recent chemical inventory filed with the federal government in 2015 only listed liquid oxygen onsite. However, the Environmental Protection Agency only requires the disclosure of certain chemicals stored in quantities above specific thresholds.
Matt Dempsey and Susan Carroll contributed to this story.
This is a developing story. Check back as we learn more.
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