Firefighters are battling a massive blaze at a business in west Houston and the city has issued an alert over the release of hazardous material.
The 4-alarm fire broke out at Custom Packaging and Filling Company at about 10:50 a.m. in the 1700 block of Laverne near Spring Branch Drive in Spring Branch, according to the Houston Fire Department.
"Haz Mat has not made contact with anyone who works or owns this company. All we have is the name of the place," said Jay Evans with the Houston Fire Department. "We have no idea what's in the building."
The fire department does not have material data safety sheets from the company, identifying what chemicals are stored on site.
Custom Packaging and Filling serves industrial customers and handles a variety of hazardous substances, according to the company website and records of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. It has no record of environmental violations with TCEQ or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and has not been inspected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the last five years.
All students at nearby Spring Branch Elementary School were evacuated on buses to Don Coleman Coliseum at 1050 North Dairy Ashford, said officials with the Spring Branch Independent School District.
A shelter in place order has been issued for the area north of Westview, west of Bingle, south of Hammerly and east of Blalock.
Officials are urging residents to stay inside, close all windows and doors and turn off air conditioning units.
An employee with COIT Carpet Cleaning's corporate office in Fort Lauderdale, which has a location across the street from the massive fire, says that street and surrounding businesses have been evacuated.
Police said traffic is being rerouted away from the fire. Motorists are urged to avoid the area.
Officials said no injuries have been reported.
Dark smoke could be seen billowing into the sky for miles. About 175 firefighter and 64 trucks battled the blaze.
More details will be reported as the story develops.
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