GARLAND, Texas — An explosion and fire at a Sherwin-Williams paint factory in Garland injured one employee and shut the facility down Monday morning, company officials said in a statement.
The explosion happened around 1:15 a.m. Monday at the company's plant at South Shiloh Road and Forest Lane in Garland, according to the statement.
The plant produces industrial coatings and resins for Sherwin-Williams.
One employee suffered a minor injury and was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to Sherwin-Williams. The employee has since been released. No other injuries were reported and all employees were accounted for, the company said.
Fire crews responded and put the fire out after battling large flames and heavy smoke for several hours.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Police at the scene said they felt the explosion from their station about a mile away.
On Tuesday, city officials said they partnered with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to test the air quality and runoff water near around the plant and neighborhoods nearby. Air quality tests have shown safe levels.
According to the city, efforts are underway to clear up the foam retardant that got into the nearby sewers and creeks after it was used to put out the fire.
Residents can see the affected area using a map from the EPA.
Officials said they have not identified any major impacts on public health. The public is advised to avoid fishing or having contact with the affected creeks while testing and cleanup efforts continue.
Any residents who identify any hazards should report them to the city's Alert System at GarlandTX.gov.
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