Industrial fire demolishes big Richland Hills recycling plant; smoke seen from Fort Worth

A massive, five-alarm fire destroyed a foam recycling plant in Richland Hills on Thursday, sending up smoke that could be seen for miles in North Texas.

Two employees were treated for minor injuries, and a third worker was injured but authorities did not know the extent of the injuries because the employee was taken to a local hospital before paramedics arrived on the scene.

At least eight North Texas fire departments responded Thursday afternoon to the industrial fire at the Advanced Foam Recycling facility at 2525 Handley Ederville Road in Richland Hills.

Since its founding in 1997, Advanced Foam Recycling has processed polyurethane foam and has grown to become one of the country’s largest scrap foam suppliers, according to its website. A reporter was not able to reach the company by phone, and Advanced Foam Recycling officials did not immediately respond to an email.

More than 125 fire department personnel including a Fort Worth hazardous materials team and officials from Richland Hills, North Richland Hills, Haltom City, Bedford, Hurst, Watauga and Grapevine responded to the fire, which was reported about 12:30 p.m. and continued to burn more than six hours later. Once the fire is out, crews will remain throughout the night to watch for hot spots, fire officials said.

Workers were in the 134,000-square-foot, one-story recycling facility building when the fire started, but authorities did not know the exact number of employees.

“It’s been contained to that one-story building,” said Richland Hills Police Department Capt. Sheena McEachran in a news conference Thursday afternoon. “The roof has collapsed.”

Former employees of the plant said more than 100 people were at the facility during the day and another 70 work the night shift.

Heavy smoke from the fire was visible from Fort Worth and surrounding cities. McEachran said officials will continue monitoring air quality in the area, but it was not a concern as of Thursday afternoon.

Workers at nearby facilities said one minute they saw smoke coming from the recycling plant and the next flames had engulfed the building.

“The foam burned quickly,” Fort Worth Fire Department Capt. Thad Raven said Thursday afternoon.

Drivers were being told to avoid the area of Belton Street and Handley Ederville Road until further notice, and anyone who lives southwest or downwind of the building was advised to stay inside and close windows and doors.

The fire was about two blocks long. Handley Ederville Road was closed from Trinity Boulevard to Airport Freeway in both directions.

A spokesperson with the North Richland Hills Emergency Management Office said no evacuations had been ordered.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

McEachran said she didn’t know of any code enforcement problems in the building prior to the fire.