Жители пригорода Иола столкнулись с пеплом от расчистки земель под будущий завод Terafab

Ash from Terafab land clearing reaches nearby Iola property GRIMES COUNTY, Texas (KBTX)- Land clearing is actively underway near the future Terafab site south of Gibbons Creek Reservoir in Grimes County, and at least one nearby resident is already feeling the effects. Earlier this week, Iola resident Danette Miller, who lives about a mile from the clearing, woke up to find charred wood and ash scattered across her 100-acre property. A local game warden confirmed to KBTX that a company has been clearing land in the area of the future Terafab site for weeks. RELATED: ‘I thought I had more time’: Grimes County resident reacts as land clearing begins near Terafab site “About two hours later, we noticed all of the charred wood and debris all over the property, large pieces up to two inches lying on dry grass,” Miller said. “It was a lot of it, and it wasn’t just dumped in piles; it was scattered all over. It was enough of it out here that it’s a real concern.” Miller said it was the first time she had ever experienced ash falling on her property from any source. Her concern isn’t just about what happened Monday; it’s about what comes next as clearing continues. “That’s the number one concern because it’s just starting,” she said. “So what’s coming next?” Iola Volunteer Fire Chief J.D. Gwinn said residents should not be overly concerned. He says the contractor clearing the land is following proper protocols, contacting the fire marshal’s office and the sheriff’s department on days they plan to burn, conducting burns in small increments and only burning on days with ideal weather conditions. “They have fire watch 24-7,” Gwinn said. “So they have somebody on-site 24-7.” Gwinn says his department of 11 volunteers has not received any calls related to the clearing and has not seen smoke from the site; however, he said the department trains every Tuesday to stay prepared for any incident. As Terafab moves closer to breaking ground, Gwinn says there is still a lot his department does not know, including when SpaceX’s own emergency response team will arrive and how they will work alongside local volunteers. “We’ve been told that they’re going to have their own fire team and their own EMS team,” Gwinn said. “So whatever thing that’s been out there in the news, that’s as much as we know as well.” Gwinn said he hopes to meet with Terafab’s safety team once construction phases begin, but when that happens remains unclear. Despite the uncertainty, he has one message for the community: “We’re here for the community, and we’ve always been here for the community since 1976, and we don’t plan on leaving,” he said. “The community can rest assured that we’re going to be there to respond to them in their time of need.” Danette Miller says she is not opposed to Terafab, but she too has a clear message as construction ramps up. “Open communication and let’s do this responsibly,” she said. “It’s coming; we’re not going to stop it. But let’s get ahead of it and make sure that everyone is aware of what’s coming.” Copyright 2026 KBTX. All rights reserved.