Residents say industrial facility fire in Channelview sounded like explosion

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Residents in the Channelview area are being heavily impacted after a large industrial fire broke out at a facility on Lakeside Drive.

The two-alarm blaze that broke out at about 4 p.m. Wednesday is sending a huge plume of thick, black smoke over eastern Harris County. Traffic is being impacted in the area

Residents in the area reported hearing a loud noise just before sirens went off.

Multiple Eyewitness News viewers shared videos and photos of the fire, which could be seen close to their locations.

“I was at my house just playing with my brother online when we heard the explosion,” a resident told ABC13. “It, like, vibrated in the house. Three or four seconds after I heard that, I came outside and there was a big cloud of black smoke.”

Another viewer reported hearing a similar sound.

“I came out the door and heard like a ‘Boom!’ and it was just flames,” he said.

Some local streets, including Lakeside, Northshore, De Zavalla Road and Harding Street, have shut down, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, drivers are slowing down on the East Freeway where the smoke is blowing over the road.