Overview
- A large pile of mostly tires at Mammoth Metal Recycling caught fire and sent thick black smoke over parts of Houston on Tuesday, with flames visible across the neighborhood.
- Houston Fire Department arson investigators are actively examining the site to establish where and how the blaze began because officials must determine origin before saying whether the fire was intentional.
- City and county records show the property has been sued for delinquent taxes and a judge ordered the tract sold after a default judgment, though the exact amount owed and current title status remain unclear.
- Federal court filings show the company’s owner pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a PPP-related case and is scheduled for sentencing this summer, and it is not clear how that case affects control of the site.
- Neighbors reported worry about breathing problems from the tire smoke, officials urged health precautions, and reporters and regulators are pursuing public records and air-quality data that could shape enforcement or cleanup actions.