Massive explosion, fire in Southwest Houston

KHOU TV Channel 11 ^ | 06:10 PM CST on Friday, December 3, 2004 | From 11 News Staff Reports

[FreedomCalls]

HOUSTON -- Firefighters are on the scene of a huge explosion and fire near Fondren and South Main in Southwest Houston.

Residents reported feeling at least two explosion from miles away just before 6 p.m.

It appears to be some kind of manufacturing plant. It's not clear if there are any injuries.

[FreedomCalls]

KHOU-TV: "Blast felt as far away as Dayton, TX -- 40 miles away."

[FreedomCalls]

Search for the address 14549 Minetta, Houston, TX 77035.

[Melas]

What La Raza terrorists would those be? To the best of my knowledge La Raza has never been associated with a terrorist act. If you know differently, by all means share the evidence.

[FreedomCalls]

The KHOU newscopter got video of the explosion.

[i_dont_chat]

This is a MASSIVE fire -- larger than anything I saw on TV during "Shock & Awe" in Iraq. I've seen big fires before, lived through the Texas City Disaster in 1947. And this one ranks as one of the worst I've seen.

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

TM PING

[FreedomCalls]

[i_dont_chat]

Abbas Hassan, President and Chairman of Marcus Oil & Chemical.

http://www.styrofoam.com/dow_news/prodbus/2003/20030430a.htm

[FreedomCalls]

The smoke plume is showing up on the weather radar.

[deport]

I think he just drew in his Pointer box line to the wrong place. He has if just off Hwy. 59 and it should be down at alt. Hwy 90

[TXnMA]

I've seen big fires before, lived through the Texas City Disaster in 1947.

Where were you in April, 1947, when the SS Grandcamp and its load of Ammonium Nitrate went up?

I was in Webster, that morning, and was in TC the next day, providing first aid...

[FreedomCalls]

And again, FR has national news first.

Yes! Scooped all the major news organizations again.

[maestro]

Your# 88.........Iraqi civil war in Houston too?

[eleni121]

"Abbas Hassan"

This is a joke right?

I guess not.

[FreedomCalls]

Link to Houston Fire Department active events blotter:

http://cbtcws.cityofhouston.gov/activeincidents/hfdincidents.aspx

[mewzilla]

Here's a link from a Marcus Oil fire from last December, 2003. From the link:

The Houston Fire Department says this is at least the third time they've been called to Marcus Oil and Chemical in the last five or six years (Copyright © 2003, KTRK-TV)

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? Bush's oil buddies being attacked ..??

[Gucho]

KTRH-AM HOUSTON RADIO CONTINUOUS LIVE COVERAGE OF FIRE:
http://www.ktrh.com/main.html

[FreedomCalls]

Here's a link to live audio from the Harris County Sheriff's Department in the left channel, and the Houston City Police Department in the right channel.

Use Winamp to listen.

http://www.shoutcast.com/sbin/shoutcast-playlist.pls?rn=981073&file=filename.pls

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

My wife, mother in law, daughter and I were having dinner at Hwy-59 and Dairy Ashford/Sugar Creek Blvd. less than 5 miles from where this blew. We were right by the plate glass window in Ninfas Mexican Rest and didn't see or hear a thing. Given that the wind is in our direction I don't know how the heck people 20 miles away felt it.

This is a big, nasty fire (though I am now about 4 miles away and can't see a thing) but it is nothing like a refinery or ship. There are several gas distribution plants in the area and this may be one. I pass there all the time and never noticed it.