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Blast at East Texas Well Triggers Fire and Precautionary Evacuations

Authorities are bringing in a well-control crew to stabilize the site.

Overview

  • The well site on the 15000 block of FM 226 north of Etoile, which exploded late Monday, sent flames high into the night sky and drew a multi-agency response.
  • Deputies said all workers were accounted for and unhurt, and residents along County Road 561 left their homes as a safety step.
  • City officials reported early Tuesday that the fire continued to burn without spreading and that air quality was being checked.
  • A specialist team from a Houston well-control firm is en route to help suppress the blaze and secure the well.
  • Investigators have not identified a cause, and authorities differ on whether the site is an oil well or a natural gas well, a detail that could guide the review.