Fire crews monitor and investigate scene of southeast Houston fire after massive blaze, HFD says

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Last updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 10:04PM GMT
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HOUSTON, Texas -- A massive fire in southeast Houston first reported on Monday afternoon, is still sending smoke billowing for miles across the city on Tuesday morning.

The thick plume of smoke could be seen on Houston TranStar cameras, just south of the Ship Channel.

SkyEye13 continued to fly over the scene, where tires were among the flames, along with industrial piping.

Officials have not yet said the exact cause of the fire.

Stay with ABC13 on Disney+ or wherever you stream Eyewitness News for the latest coverage on the fire.

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Jun 23, 2026, 10:00 PM GMT

Air monitoring continues as crews investigate cause of massive fire in southeast Houston, HFD says

The Houston Fire Department said crews are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire at a recycling facility in southeast Houston.

The Houston Health Director, Dr. Theresa Tran, said that officials are continuing to test the air quality and water runoff, adding that the results have not reached any levels of concern.

The Houston Fire Department said crews are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire at a recycling facility in southeast Houston.
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Jun 23, 2026, 4:05 PM GMT

Crews monitor and investigate scene of massive fire in southeast Houston, HFD says

The Houston Fire Department said crews are continuing to monitor and investigate the scene of Monday's massive fire in southeast Houston.

In the aftermath of the fire, hazardous materials teams are monitoring air quality and water runoff, while arson investigators work to determine what sparked the blaze.

The HFD Life Safety Bureau is also reviewing the property's history as part of the department's ongoing investigation.

"Our firefighters, hazmat team, and investigators remain actively engaged at this site," Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz said. "We are conducting ongoing air quality monitoring, monitoring water runoff, and continuing an investigation into the cause of the fire. At this time, there is no immediate danger to the community, and we will maintain a presence here for as long as necessary to ensure the area remains safe."

No firefighters or civilians were injured in the fire.

Officials are advising those who are sensitive to smoke to limit outdoor exposure as smoke and odors are expected to remain in the air.

Drivers are also urged to use caution as emergency crews and support personnel remain on scene.

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Jun 23, 2026, 3:17 PM GMT

Union Pacific pauses train activity near southeast Houston fire, city official says

Train activity has been temporarily paused near the site of the southeast Houston fire, according to councilman Joaquin Martinez.

Martinez said the railway pause comes at the request of the Houston Fire Department as crews continue to work in the area.

Once cleared to resume operations, trains will begin moving with a slow rollout along the Galveston subdivision, Martinez said.

People are advised to avoid the area and consider alternate routes to avoid delays.

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Jun 23, 2026, 1:00 PM GMT

Southeast Houston fire now smoldering as crews scale back response

The southeast Houston fire is finally dying down, with the Houston Fire Department saying that the blaze is smoldering on Tuesday morning.

HFD said it has scaled back its fire crews after having about 100 firefighters at the scene on Monday.

Fire crews will continue working on the site Tuesday, possibly into Wednesday, to mitigate the area and monitor hotspots, officials said.