Texas chemical plant explosion prompts school evacuation

San Jacinto County officials on Wednesday warned residents living near the Sound Resource Solutions facility to shelter in place as first responders tried to determine whether any chemicals were released into the air. The facility is in the city of Shepherd, which is located about 60 miles northeast of Houston. The explosion and subsequent fire injured an employee who suffered minor burns and was taken to a nearby hospital. A local private school was evacuated following the blast.

What is known about the facility? Sound Resource Solutions employs about 40 people, 19 of whom were at the plant at the time of the blast, said local law enforcement. The facility was manufacturing diesel and turpentine, company CEO Geoff Hartfield told local media. Authorities reported Wednesday afternoon that the fire was contained.

Dig deeper: Listen to Lillian Hamman’s report on The WORLD and Everything in It podcast about concerns over synthetic chemicals in drinking water.