HOUSTON – Residents on Houston’s East Side are demanding answers after a massive tire fire at Mammoth Metal Recycling sent a cloud of smoke into the air — and left people wondering what they have been breathing.
The fire broke out around 2:49 p.m. Monday, June 22, near the intersection of Kellogg and Lawndale streets. Houston Fire Department Chief Thomas Munoz said the fire and smoke cloud stretched about the size of a football field, as a large pile of tires, trash and debris on the property ignited.
For Angelina Sanchez, who has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years, the smoke was right outside her home. Her biggest concern: her newborn granddaughter.
A massive blaze, a massive response
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, and rehabilitation services trucks were also on site to support firefighter health and safety. 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, 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 (TCEQ), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are monitoring air quality and water runoff in the surrounding area. Hazmat teams have also been on scene.
But Air Alliance Houston, a clean air advocacy group, is pressing state environmental officials for more on Thursday. The organization wants to know exactly how air quality is being tested — and where that data is.
“Given the fact that this fire burned for 24 hours, that’s a long time,” said Dr. Inyang Uwak, an environmental epidemiologist at Air Alliance Houston. “So it is important for us to know how much pollution is out there, what type of pollution are we looking at.”
The group says its closest air monitor, located 4 miles from the fire site, detected elevated levels of fine particulate pollution. State environmental regulators, however, have yet to share their findings.
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. Uwak recommends that people in the area stay indoors and wear a mask if venturing outside.
HFD also warned residents in the area to expect smoke and odor to remain present, specifically cautioning individuals sensitive to smoke — including those with respiratory conditions — to limit prolonged outdoor exposure.
Toxic pollutants detected, symptoms to watch for
Dr. Uwak says the fire released a dangerous mix of pollutants into the air, including fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide and heavy metals — all byproducts of burning tires. Those findings underscore why vulnerable residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions, the elderly and young children, should take the precautions health experts are recommending.
“Irritation of the throat, coughing, sneezing, wheezing — especially if you have asthma, you can have exacerbation of symptoms of chronic respiratory disease like asthma, bronchitis,” Uwak said. “Contact your healthcare provider.”
Gaps in the system
Environmental and air pollution experts say a reliable system for tracking and recording short-term, high-exposure impacts still doesn’t exist — leaving residents to navigate the aftermath with incomplete information.