Whats On Fire In Downtown Houston Blaze Near Lawndale And Broadway Sends Thick Black Smoke Into The Sky

Firefighters battled a large blaze Monday afternoon at a recycling facility in southeast Houston. Videos shared on social media showed a massive plume of thick black smoke visible for miles across the city.

According to Fox 26, the Houston Fire Department responded to reports of a fire shortly after 2:45 p.m. near the intersection of Kellogg and Manchester streets in the Manchester neighborhood along the Houston Ship Channel. Officials said a large pile of tires and other debris caught fire at the facility.

Houston Fire Department Chief Thomas Munoz said crews upgraded the response to a 211 alarm within about an hour. More than 100 firefighters and additional equipment were sent to the scene. Officials said firefighters launched an aggressive attack on the flames instead of letting the materials burn out.

As of late Monday afternoon, no injuries had been reported. Authorities also said there were no evacuation or shelter-in-place orders for nearby residents. While a neighborhood is located near the facility, officials said homes were not in immediate danger.

Teams from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and HAZMAT units were monitoring air quality at the scene. Officials said no environmental concerns had been identified as of Monday evening.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. It was not immediately clear how long crews would need to fully extinguish the blaze.

Dense black smoke continued to rise from the site during the evening rush hour. The plume prompted numerous calls and social media posts from residents across the Houston area.

Another added, "Wow and I live nearby. Half of the sky is all gray."

A third person wrote, "They also have a bunch of tires piled up there, thats what appears to be burning, Mammoth Recycling."

Another local resident added, "I was at the Circle K and went behind the Circle K with everyone else and that smoke is definitely thick. But it doesn’t smell at all."

Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan leads the US Desk at Hindustan Times, where she writes, strategises coverage, and ensures quality across all beats. With eight years of experience covering US news for leading publications, she has reported extensively on politics, entertainment, and sports. Vaishnavi holds a graduate degree in English, Journalism, and Psychology, and completed her PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Manorama School of Communication, where she was awarded the prestigious Mammen Mappillai Award for Best Outgoing Student. She began her career at the International Business Times (US Edition), covering US breaking news, politics, and entertainment. She later joined Opoyi, reporting across all beats, including US sports and trending stories. Prior to Hindustan Times, she served as World Lead at Times Now News, covering comprehensive world news and events. Vaishnavi has expertise in politics, entertainment, and breaking news, and enjoys tackling stories across a wide range of topics. Beyond the newsroom, she is an avid traveller, a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants, and a pop culture enthusiast who enjoys watching latest shows and films. She also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions on Reddit.Read More