Texas City residents wary of air quality after fire at decommissioned power plant

VIDEO: Residents near a decommissioned power plant in Texas City are keeping a close eye on potential impacts after a massive fire Sunday sent smoke and ash into surrounding neighborhoods. Texas City Emergency Management says the fire at the old P.H. Robinson Power Plant is out, and crews were putting water on remaining hot spots Monday afternoon. Neighbors in the Edgewater community say theyโ€™ve already noticed changes.

โ€œ[It looked] like an alien invasion,โ€ homeowner Kenneth Fleeton said, still in disbelief after seeing the flames. Phillip Grant, who also lives on Bay Lane, said the smell of smoke lingered at his home. โ€œMonday morning, as soon as I opened the door, I could smell the smoke in the air.โ€

Another neighbor told KHOU 11 he was washing ash and embers off his patio furniture after the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but officials say there is no immediate danger to residents.

Texas City Emergency Management reports the five burned cooling towers did not contain hazardous materials, and air quality monitors have not detected harmful chemicals.

KVUE-TV ABC 33 Austin

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