Air quality tests, investigation underway after explosion at Sherwin-Williams plant
GARLAND (CBSNewsTexas.com) – Officials are investigating an explosion at a Sherwin-Williams plant that resulted in a fire.
It happened around 1:15 a.m. at Sherwin Williams at 701 South Shiloh Road in Garland.
Garland Texas Fire Sherman Williams plant #garlandtx pic.twitter.com/blyxwbSHKe
— basajason (@basajason) August 7, 2023
Ultimately, 16 units responded to the scene within minutes and called a 2-alarm blaze. The fire was extinguished within a few hours and it is still unclear what caused the explosion.
A spokesperson from Sherwin-Williams said production at the site was suspended. Once cleared by the fire department, they will assess the impact of the explosion and fire before resuming production.
One worker at the plant was injured and taken to a local hospital as a precaution. They have since been released.
Garland Fire asks the public to stay clear of the plant as the investigation continues and said it is aware people in the area noticed a strong chemical smell in the air during and after the fire.
Here’s a witness who was in a nearby building when the explosions happened at the Sherwin Williams plant. He’s a combat veteran and never heard an explosion quite like that. @CBSNewsTexas pic.twitter.com/L92hDhILGC
— Nick Starling (@NickStarlingTV) August 7, 2023
According to GFD, as fire suppression efforts were underway, "a hazardous materials team responded and initiated preliminary air quality testing at the site and in nearby neighborhoods."
The city says air and stormwater quality are very high priorities and requested testing from both the EPA and TCEQ.
"Based on the results of the initial testing, it was determined that an evacuation of the surrounding area was not necessary," a statement from GFD reads.
On Tuesday, the company said foam retardant from the Sherwin-Williams fire suppression system did enter the sewers and surrounding creeks.
"While some dead fish have been observed in the impacted creeks, no major impacts to public health have been identified at this time," Sherwin-Williams said in a statement. "The public is advised to not fish or have contact with these creeks while contaminant testing and cleanup activities continue."
A map of the affected creeks is now available on the EPA's incident website.
Air quality and stormwater tests will continue to be run, the city says, and if testing identifies hazards, the affected area will be immediately notified.
Shiloh Rd. remains closed from Marquis to Forest Ln.