Explosions, fire at mechanic shop in northwest Harris County

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Firefighters are trying to determine the cause of a fire that sparked explosions and a fury of flames and smoke inside a diesel mechanic shop in northwest Harris County on Friday.

The flames and smoke moved faster than dozens of firefighters could handle.

"This repair shop was fully involved when we got here," said John Hurt, the public information officer for the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department. "So there wasn't much we could do to save that."

Whatever was inside the metal building on Taub Road near Beltway 8 and West Road produced several explosions that reportedly could be heard from up to a mile away.

"Nothing shattered but the house shook," says Elizabeth Juarez, who was two houses away from the mechanic shop. "The TV and the house started shaking.  It was bad."

The effects were worse for Ray Lopez who lives next door to the site of the fire.  Lopez says the explosion blew out several of his windows.  When he heard the blast he headed straight outside.

"I was inside and I heard the explosion, saw all my windows blow out, and then came just right back outside," Lopez said.

Firefighters spent hours on scene trying to determine the cause but said the explosion and resulting fire caused no injuries.


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