A towering industrial fire broke out Sunday afternoon at the long-shuttered PHR Peakers power plant in Texas City, sending a dense plume of smoke high into the sky and triggering a major response from local emergency crews. The smoke column was so large that it became visible on weather radar, drawing immediate public attention across the region.
Firefighters rushed to the scene shortly after reports emerged of flames erupting from the old facility on the 5500 block of Highway 146. The Texas City–La Marque Fire Department deployed multiple units as crews worked to contain the blaze within the aging structure and prevent it from spreading to nearby industrial sites.
Authorities closed both directions of Highway 146 due to drifting smoke and active firefighting operations, urging drivers and residents to avoid the area until conditions were deemed safe. Officials noted that all individuals previously connected to the plant had been accounted for, and no injuries were reported.
The former natural-gas peaker plant, once used to bolster the electrical grid during periods of peak demand, has been dormant for several years. Investigators have begun examining the site to determine what sparked the fire, though an official cause has not yet been identified.
Fire crews continued to monitor the area for hotspots as the investigation moved forward. Local officials said additional updates would be released once more information becomes available, especially regarding highway reopening times and the structural condition of the facility.
