В штате Миссисипи ликвидирован крупный пожар на заводе Howard Industries

Laurel fire chief explains Howard Industries blaze LAUREL, Miss. (WDAM) - Coverage continued Tuesday after the massive fire at Howard Industries in Laurel that sent black smoke billowing into the sky, seen from miles away. WDAM 7 drone footage captured transformers and other debris from the plant after the smoke cleared. RELATED: Large fire prompts evacuation at Howard Industries Laurel Fire Chief Leo Brown said crews had to split up to battle two separate blazes on the property. “Well, you had one storage area out in front of the employee parking lot on the Pendorff side. That’s where the paint moved,” Brown said. “You had storage transformers and other equipment. That was the main fire. By the guard shack on Industrial Boulevard, you had an 18-wheeler on fire.” Crews used a combination of water and foam to get both fires under control by 8:30 p.m. While the thick black smoke looked alarming, Brown said the chemicals burning actually behave differently than highly explosive gases like propane. “You know, propane, when it heats up, it’s going to blow off and cause destruction,” he said. “Acetone or the oil, it’s like striking a match. You’re just going to get a big blaze, and then it’s going to dwindle down.” Employees were quickly evacuated after the fire broke out, and no one was hurt. Brown said the cause of the fires is still under investigation. “We haven’t determined the cause yet. That’s going on by Howard’s and the insurance folks to determine the cause.” Brown said he appreciates the 17 volunteer fire crews that helped extinguish the fires. Howard Industries posted on Facebook that normal operating hours resumed Tuesday morning. Want more WDAM 7 news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. Copyright 2026 WDAM. All rights reserved.