Bryan Chemical fire prompts massive evacuations

Thousands of people were ordered to leave their home and offices as a toxic fire raged Thursday afternoon Bryan.

The city is telling anyone who can see or smell smoke to evacuate their homes and businesses. Those north of University Drive extending to the east and west county lines have been ordered to evacuate. See a map of affected area here. The Red Cross has set up emergency shelter at Reed Arena for those affected by the evacuation. As of 7:00 p.m., 800 people were reported to have sought shelter at Reed Arena. A&M Consolidated Middle School has also been opened as a shelter.

Highway 21 is closed between FM 2818 and Highway 47; all connecting roads in the area have also been closed.

Fire crews tell us the burning chemical is ammonium nitrate and they plan to let the fire burn itself out, putting water on the fire will only make it worse. The biggest danger, they say, is a massive explosion.

John Carver with El Dorado Chemicals reports the plant on Highway 21 is a "typical dry blend fertilizer" facility. He reports a crew was welding in an empty storage bin when a spark started a small smoldering fire.

A HAZMAT team from the U.S. Army was training in the area when the fire started; they are now on scene. A team from the Environmental Protection Agency is also en route to the fire.

Officials at Coulter Field, just south of Highway 21 from the fire report the airport has been closed to incoming traffic. A local pilot is in the air providing air support for emergency crews on the ground. Otherwise the area is a complete no-fly zone.

St. Joseph's Hospital is on divert, meaning no new patients are being accepted. Existing patients are not affected.

Texas A&M University has issued a Code Maroon telling faculty and staff that classes are canceled and campus is closed.

Due to the fire, the City of Bryan compost facility was evacuated. The City reports the evacuation "may cause some interruption in service for the City's residential brush and bulky collection today." They say any trash not picked up Thursday will be collected as soon as possible.

We have a crew on the scene and will bring you more as it becomes available.

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