What’s in the air? East Houston residents demand answers after Mammoth Metal Recycling fire
Residents on Houston’s East Side are asking a pressing question in the wake of a large outdoor recycling fire: What exactly are they breathing?
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The air near the intersection of Kellogg and Lawndale streets has noticeably changed since a massive cloud of smoke became visible Monday afternoon, raising concerns about air quality for thousands of nearby residents — including the elderly and young children.
A massive blaze, a massive response
The fire broke out around 2:49 p.m. Monday, June 22, at Mammoth Metal Recycling, near the intersection of Kellogg and Lawndale streets. Houston Fire Department (HFD) says a large pile of tires, trash and debris on the property ignited.
HFD Chief Thomas Munoz said the fire and smoke about the size of a football field,
To battle the blaze, approximately 100 firefighters were rotated in and out of the scene — a strategy designed to keep crews fresh while fighting both the fire and the intense summer heat. Several fire engines and hoses were deployed at the scene, and rehabilitation services trucks were also spotted on site to support firefighter health and safety during the grueling response effort.
Cooling buses and on-site medical assistance were also made available to help prevent heat exhaustion.
No injuries have been reported.
The fire continued burning into Tuesday, June 23. In posts on Facebook and Instagram, HFD said firefighters, Public Works and the Health Department remained on scene Tuesday. Firefighters working to extinguish hotspots in the debris.
Agencies step in to monitor air, water
Chief Munoz sought to reassure the community as crews worked to contain the blaze.
“At this time, there is no immediate danger to the community, and we will maintain a presence here for as long as necessary to ensure the area remains safe,” Munoz said.
Multiple agencies have been called in to back up that commitment. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard are monitoring air quality and water runoff in the surrounding area. Hazmat teams have also been on scene.
What residents near the fire should do
While officials say there is no immediate danger, health experts and fire officials are urging residents near the fire site to take precautions.
Dr. Inyang Uwak with Air Alliance Houston — an advocacy group that works to reduce the public health impacts of air pollution through research, education and advocacy — recommends that people in the area stay indoors and wear a mask if venturing outside.
HFD also warned in its social media posts that residents in the area should expect smoke and odor to remain present. The department specifically cautioned individuals who are sensitive to smoke, including those with respiratory conditions, to take appropriate precautions and limit prolonged outdoor exposure if necessary.
Toxic pollutants detected in the air
Dr. Uwak says the fire released a dangerous mix of pollutants into the air, including particulate matter — also known as PM pollution — carbon monoxide and heavy metals, all byproducts of burning tires.
While Chief Munoz has stated there is no immediate danger to the community, Dr. Uwak’s findings underscore why vulnerable residents — particularly those with respiratory conditions, the elderly and young children — should heed the precautions being recommended by health experts. HFD also making the same recommendation to nearby residents on social media.
‘My life is what worries me the most’
For many East Side residents, the threat isn’t abstract — it’s immediate and personal.
One woman was caring for her elderly father, 94-year-old Luis, who uses a wheelchair and could not evacuate on his own when the smoke appeared.
“I tell him go inside, Dad, you can still smell it and I think it is bad for him, he is 94,” she said.
Luis, speaking in Spanish through a voiceover translation, described his fear and helplessness during the fire.
“My life, my life is what worries me the most,” he said. “What could I do? I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t do anything.”
Original Spanish: “Mi vida, mi vida... Pues que pensaba yo, no podia caminar, no podia hacer nada.”
Meanwhile, a neighbor identified as Claudia De la Rosa said the irritation she felt drove her family out of their home for the day.
“My nose was kind of itchy, so I told my husband I didn’t want to be at my house,” Claudia said.
She added that breathing remains her top concern.
“Right now, I guess just the breathing — you can still see the smoke, and you’re like breathing all the air,” Claudia said.
Smoke drifts to north side of Houston
The impact of the fire isn’t limited to the East Side. Harris County Environmental Response is also actively monitoring air quality across the region.
According to Dr. Uwak, wind carried emissions from the fire northward on Tuesday, reaching as far as the area near Homestead Road and East Mount Houston Road on the city’s North Side.
Residents in those areas should also follow the same precautions recommended for East Side residents — stay indoors when possible and wear a mask if going outside.