·PRESS RELEASE FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE
Busy Evening, Early Morning for County Firefighters and MCFMO Investigators
Illegal burn gets out of control, near the Grimes County line. Citation issued
· Two Arson Fires
· Explosion at Electrical Substation
1. 4:00 pm, 7/13/11: Magnolia Fire Department responded to an out of control grass fire on Hall drive, off of FM 1486. This fire was the result of an unattended illegal burn pile. This fire, which destroyed the home owner’s shed, was literally just a few miles from last month’s 5000 acre Grimes County fire. The home owner, who admitted to burning, was given a citation for violation of the burn ban. This is the type of fire that can very quickly get out of control and rapidly grow in size, much like the Grimes, Walker and Trinity county fires.
2. 8:00 pm, 7/13/11: Cut and Shoot Fire Department responded to a residential fire in the 5000 block of S. Duck Creek. An occupant inside the mobile home apparently took an unknown quantity of Ambien and then set the house on fire. The overdose victim was transported to the hospital for treatment. The house is a total loss. First degree Arson of a Habitation charges are pending against the occupant who set the fire.
3. 8:00pm, 7/13/11: The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of an extinguished arson fire, on Fawn drive near Misty Meadow, in the Hazy Hollow subdivision in Magnolia. Investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. A suspect has been identified and is accused of setting fire to a small travel trailer. First degree Arson of a Habitation charges are pending in this case
4. 0611am, 7/14/11: An explosion occurred this morning at the Entergy 280/138KV Substation, located on Calhoun road near FM 1314, in Bennett Estates. A bank of approximately 432 “Static VAR Capacitors” caught fire this morning a little after 6 AM. The capacitors each contain 5 gallons of mineral oil for a total of 2160 gallons of mineral oil that is burning. There are no PCP’s used in the substation. The fire is contained in a fenced area surrounded by gravel. There was no loss of power to any businesses or homes in the area. The Woodlands Fire Department Haz-Mat team is on scene monitoring the air quality. There have been no evacuations and the fire poses no immediate danger to the surrounding community. Caney Creek and Needham Fire Departments, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office as well as an ambulance from the Montgomery County Hospital District will remain on scene monitoring the situation throughout the day. The Fire Department has decided that the best course of action is to allow the mineral oil to burn itself out. Once the fire is out and the area has cooled, MCFMO Fire Investigators and Entergy officials can then enter the scene and access the damage and determine what caused the fire.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has also been notified and is monitoring this event.
