Massive Blaze Erupts at Power Plant, Spewing Fireball and Toxic Smoke

Firefighters in Texas are battling a massive blaze at a decommissioned power plant, sending huge flames and thick plumes of smoke into the sky early Sunday morning.

The fire broke out at the PH Robinson Power Plant along State Highway 146 in Bacliff, a facility that has been shut down for some time. Authorities told KHOU11 the building was supposed to be vacant.

Crews from Galveston County and nearby Brazoria County rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the fire around 2:30 a.m. When firefighters arrived, a large portion of the plant was already engulfed in flames.

Because of heavy smoke, officials issued a shelter-in-place order for parts of San Leon, stretching from 8th Street to Galveston Bay. The Kemah Police Department also posted an urgent advisory on X, warning residents of a “huge plume of smoke trailing northward” and urging people to avoid the area.

A public safety alert was sent to phones in the vicinity, cautioning residents to stay clear of smoke conditions. According to ABC13, Texas City firefighters say that air monitoring has shown the air quality to be safe so far. No injuries have been reported.

Images from the scene show a massive column of smoke rising over Texas City as multiple fire crews work to bring the blaze under control. Flames could still be seen pouring from the structure several hours after the fire began.

Officials say firefighting efforts will continue throughout the morning until the blaze is fully contained. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

The incident comes just days after a large warehouse fire in Baltimore created a dark cloud of smoke over the city and triggered multiple alarm upgrades. In that case, residents were also urged to avoid the area due to heavy smoke.

Authorities in Texas are asking residents near the power plant to remain cautious and stay alert for further updates as crews continue working at the scene.