Bartlett residents cautioned to stay indoors after fire at fertilizer plant

Claire Osborn, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·2 min read

BARTLETT — Residents of Bartlett were encouraged to stay indoors as much as possible Monday after a fire overnight at a fertilizer plant.

Mayor Chad Mees said the request was precautionary in case winds change and smoke blows their way and that officials from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are monitoring the air quality and have said it is safe.

Officials said the American Plant Food facility contained chemicals for making fertilizers, but that there were no materials there that could cause an explosion. They said the structure was allowed to burn with firefighters focused on keeping the blaze from spreading.

No injuries were reported, and the building, which was not occupied at the time of the three-alarm fire, was considered a total loss. The blaze at 9901 Texas 95 was first reported at 8:33 p.m. Sunday. People were evacuated from two to three residences close to the fire, Mees said.

Bartlett, a town of about 1,800 people roughly 50 miles northeast of Austin in Williamson County. It is surrounded by farmland.

No injuries were reported Monday after a fire at an American Plant Food facility in Bartlett. The fertilizer plant, which was not occupied at the time of the three-alarm fire, was considered a total loss.
No injuries were reported Monday after a fire at an American Plant Food facility in Bartlett. The fertilizer plant, which was not occupied at the time of the three-alarm fire, was considered a total loss.

Officials said the TCEQ will continue monitoring air quality through the cleanup process, which could take several weeks. They said the blaze caused a 6-acre grass fire behind the plant that was contained by 3:30 a.m.

The right southbound lane of Texas 95 was closed near the scene for emergency purposes.

Late Monday morning, crews were spraying an aerial mist on the smoldering fire to contain the smoke, Mees said. He said the plant is on 4 to 5 acres and is bordered on one side by Texas 95 and another side by railroad tracks.

A passer-by first noticed the fire Sunday night and called 911, the mayor said. Mees said he drove to the scene when he heard about it Sunday. His first thought, he said, was to stop traffic from entering the area.

"I turned around, left and went to stop traffic on 95 out of fear the plant because of the explosion that happened in West," he said.

An earthshaking explosion in April 2013 at the West Fertilizer Co. plant north of Waco left 15 people dead and crumpled scores of nearby buildings.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was monitoring the air quality in the vicinity of the fire Monday and planned to continue through the cleanup.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was monitoring the air quality in the vicinity of the fire Monday and planned to continue through the cleanup.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Bartlett residents asked to stay indoors after fertilizer plant fire