According to Reuters, on August 7, a fire broke out at Sherwin-Williams’ paint factory in Garland, Texas, injuring one person.
According to reports, several loud bangs woke up nearby residents, followed by a strong smell of paint. While the cause has not been determined, the area continues to be monitored due to the presence of chemicals at the scene.
What happened
The incident happened around 1:15 a.m., Garland Fire Department Chief Information Officer James
Duggar told the media that the local fire department responded to a “possible explosion” at the facility around 1:20 a.m.
Residents at least five miles away reported hearing loud noises that could be related to the explosion, the report said.
“I heard a loud bang, followed by many bangs. I lost count, it was more than 15. The fireball rose from the factory, billowing smoke.” Jim, who lives nearby
Norris said. “Just around the corner, you can feel the heat of the fire.”
An eyewitness told the outlet: “All you see is the sky keep lighting up this bright fiery orange, it’s horrible. You can smell it. If you know what the smell of paint is when you paint a house — that’s what it smells like.”
While the fire was initially a No. 2 fire, it was later upgraded to dedicate more resources to fighting the fire, according to the Garland Fire Department.
After firefighters assessed the severity of the blaze, more people were brought to the scene, Duggar said, adding that an employee at the manufacturing plant was treated at the scene before being transferred to a local hospital.
Eventually, the fire was extinguished within hours. A spokesman for the Garland Police Department told the media the cause of the fire was not yet known, but all major roads in and around the plant were closed.
Sherwin-Williams Statement
Headquartered in Cleveland, USA, Xuanwei mainly produces residential and industrial coatings. As of December 31, 2022, the company has 48 manufacturing plants and 24 distribution plants in the United States.
Regarding the explosion accident, Xuanwei spokesperson said that the factory has suspended production. Once approved by the fire department, they will assess the environmental impact of the explosion and fire before resuming production.
“In the meantime, Sherwin-Williams’ business continuity team is fully mobilized and contingency plans are being developed to ensure we meet our customers’ needs,” the spokesperson said.
A worker at the plant was injured in the accident and was taken to a local hospital out of an abundance of caution. He has since been released.
As the investigation continues, the Garland Fire Department is asking the public to stay away from the plant and said people aware of the area noticed a strong chemical smell in the air during and after the fire.
According to the fire department, as efforts to suppress the fire continued, “a hazardous materials team responded and began initial air quality testing at the scene and in nearby communities.”
The city of Garland said air and stormwater quality are very important and asked EPA and TCEQ to test.
“Based on the results of initial testing, it was determined that evacuation of the surrounding area was not necessary,” a statement from the Garland Fire Department read.
The city said it will continue to conduct air quality and stormwater tests and if the tests reveal hazards, affected areas will be notified immediately.
It is understood that the factory mainly produces resins and industrial coatings.
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