PHOTOS: A lightning strike ignited a fire at the Amlon Golden Triangle waste facility Monday afternoon, sending a towering cloud of black smoke into the sky and prompting evacuations but resulted in no injuries. According to the Port Arthur Fire Department, lightning struck around 3:15 p.m., setting three fiberglass tanks ablaze at the facility near Main Avenue and Procter Extension. The tanks, which were filled with non-hazardous wastewater, burned for nearly an hour and a half in what officials classified as a mid-scale fire. “The manufactured fiberglass tanks is what fueled the fire,” said Port Arthur Battalion Chief Jeremy Holland. The fire, visible from over a mile away, alarmed nearby residents and led to the evacuation of on-site workers. Fire crews used 250 gallons of foam to bring the flames under control. In a press release, Amlon Golden Triangle stated they plan to fully assess the damage and are cooperating with emergency response authorities. The company confirmed no injuries or fatalities occurred.
