December 3, 2004
From 11 News Staff Reports
Photo: Air 11
HOUSTON -- Firefighters are on the scene of a huge explosion and fire at a chemical plant near Fondren and South Main in Southwest Houston.
Residents reported feeling multiple explosions from miles away just before 6 p.m.
Air 11 pilot Mike Silman first spotted the flames from the downtown area.
"We saw this thing when it happened -- huge explosion, I'm talking flames 100 feet or so in the air," Silman said.
The plant has been identified as the Marcus Oil Plant.
It's not clear if there are any injuries, but the fire department reports all employees are apparently accounted for.
There are several residential neighborhoods, a church and a private school near the plant.
Greg Ervin said he and his wife felt the explosion from 20 miles away.
"We were in the upstairs loft of our home in Inwood North and the blast vibrated our home and shook the windows," Ervin said in an e-mail to 11 News. "It sounded like a distant sonic boom."
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