Update: Fire out at Downsville water pump

Update from KWTX News, Waco: Area fire departments responded Thursday afternoon to the report of a possible chlorine fire in a building owned by the Downsville Water Department. The fire was reported around 1:45 p.m. Thursday by a deputy of the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office patrolling along South 3rd Street near Downsville.

Chlorine is a light greenish-yellow gas with an irritating odor; it is considered TOXIC and can be fatal if inhaled. The deputy saw fire and a yellow mushroom cloud.

Downsville, Robinson and Waco Fire departments all responded to the fire.

Initial readings at the site had the chlorine level at 8.5 times the lethal level. A few minutes later the readings were at 6.4 times the lethal level. A three mile radius around the area was evacuated.

Two chlorine canisters — both 5-foot tall and 1-foot in diameter — caught fire in a storage shed. The storage shed holding the canisters caught fire at first, then the canisters themselves caught fire, officials said.

The building houses a pump station that services customers of the Downsville Water System. Water service has been shut off for customers in the Downsville and Golinda areas.

It was not immediately clear Thursday afternoon when service would be restored.
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By Patrick Tolbert at KXXV News, Waco
HAZMAT crews were called to the Downsville water pumping station near South 3rd Street and Steiner where a large container of chlorine was burning inside. Crews evacuated everyone within a three mile radius while the fire continued to burn. Deputies say since the fire is in a rural area only “a handful of homes have been evacuated.”

Firefighters from Downsville, Robinson and the Waco Fire Department HAZMAT team helped to contain the blaze.

A McLennan County Sheriff’s Deputy reported the fire around 1:30 p.m. while was responding to a separate call and noticed a thick cloud of smoke coming from the treatment plant.

Officials with AquaSource, the company that operates the pump, told News Channel 25 there will be no disruption of service to the Downsville community.