(Photo courtesy Joaquin VFD)
April 30, 2022 - Emergency personnel responded to a saltwater well disposal site off FM 139 Monday, April 25, 2022, where a fire had ignited during inclement weather conditions.
Officials with the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) as well as Constable Precinct 3, Texas Department of Public Safety, Shelby County Sheriff's Department and DeSoto Fire District 1 fire personnel all were at the location after the fire was reported.
(Photo courtesy Joaquin VFD)
While fire personnel sprayed water onto the tanks which were in flames when they arrived at the site, and the circumstances quickly became more dire as additional tanks caught on fire. One tank on the site erupted into the air and landed in a nearby field. Law enforcement shut down traffic on FM 139 to prevent any risk to travelers on the roadway.
Fire personnel gave greater clearance at that time to the tanks that were in flames and to the entire site.
Power utilities were disconnected by Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative personnel and the tanks eventually burned to a point where they cooled down. Joaquin VFD personnel utilized a drone supplied by Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3, to implement its infrared software and determine the hot spots on the location.
No injuries were reported as a result of the incident and the Joaquin VFD confirmed the fire was believed to have started due to lightning strike. Additional details may be reported when they are made available.
