Huge plumes of smoke filled the skies over the East End and could be seen for miles in Houston, causing drivers on area freeways to do a double take Saturday. It sure looked like a massive fire was raging somewhere in the city.
In this case, there literally may be more smoke than fire however. The Houston Fire Department is calling the blaze that produced all the smoke a one alarm fire.
The fire broke out at a recycling warehouse operated by Derichebourg Recycling USA, a French company. The fire got reported at 1:57 p.m. and a multiple of HFD units raced to the scene. The fire department ended up deploying fire boats, Hazmat units and traditional fire trucks to 8928 Wharf at Harrisburg Blvd.
The recycling warehouse is close to The Ship Channel and the materials in it could make fighting the fire a little trickier. There have been no reports of injuries from the fire.
The smoke it's producing is already creating quite a scene however. CultureMap contributor Shafik Rifaat jumped into action and took several exclusive shots of the smoky scene (click through the photo gallery above the story for more).
A warehouse fire sent smoke billowing into the Houston sky.
The building at 4911 will be torn down for the new greenspace. Holland Lodge No. 1, A.F. & A.M./Facebook 