After fire, Texas investigating warehouse near Rio Hondo — again

RIO HONDO — A fire that burned a large warehouse near Rio Hondo to the ground last week is under investigation by state environmental authorities, and it isn’t the first time that the warehouse has come under scrutiny, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said.

The fire at the warehouse off Farm-to-Market Road 106 consumed more than 6,000 gallons of paint, 200 gallons of deck cleaning solution, 100 pints of porch and floor enamel, and 75 32-ounce containers of wood preservatives as well as laundry detergent, cleaning equipment and tools, officials said.

Those items are only what investigators have documented so far, said Lisa Wheeler, a TCEQ spokeswoman.

The Valley Morning Star has been unable to reach the property’s owner, William Templeton, for comment.

Cameron County Emergency Coordinator Humberto Barrera said sparks from the torches of two workers who were welding accidentally started the fire. No one was injured.

PREVIOUS PROBE

The warehouse — located across the street from Los Fresnos schools’ Las Yescas Elementary — and its owner were first investigated by TCEQ in October 2008, the agency said.

“During the investigation, (Templeton) was found to be in violation of TCEQ rules,” Wheeler said via email. “Specifically, (he) failed to prevent the unauthorized disposal of municipal solid waste and failed to immediately abate and contain the spill or discharge of paint.”

She said Templeton was cited and required to remove and properly dispose of the solid waste and remediate all areas of soil impacted by the paint.

“A follow-up investigation was conducted in September 2009 and it was determined that (Templeton) had not taken any action to resolve the violations,” she said. “The investigation was referred to the TCEQ’s Enforcement Division where an agreed order was issued in September of 2010 that assessed a penalty and required (him) to properly dispose of the waste and conduct remediation activities at the site.”

The penalty was $2,100, with $420 deferred and a payable penalty of $1,680, TCEQ said.

“The order also required (Templeton) to cease disposing of additional waste, properly dispose of the existing waste, and to conduct appropriate remediation activities at the site,” Wheeler said.

Prior to last week’s fire, a TCEQ investigator visited the warehouse in November 2011.

“A report of the investigator’s findings was in the process of being referred to the Enforcement Division,” she said. “That investigation and report has subsequently been reopened to incorporate the findings related to the fire incident.”

And so, the investigation continues.

Wheeler said that depending on contact and communication with Templeton, the investigation could wrap up in two or three weeks. After that, TCEQ’s Enforcement Division will determine what action to take against Templeton.

AFTERMATH

Barrera said the fire took two days to completely douse. He described the charred aftermath as a disaster.

“It’s a disaster because it impacts our county, our wildlife and has a potential to impact water tables,” he said. “I’m very confident that TCEQ will do what they have to do to get the site back to normal. Templeton has been cooperating with our office and hopefully we’ll find a resolution. Again, it’s TCEQ’s case and our main concern is making sure we keep people in the area safe.”

TCEQ’s investigation doesn’t mean Cameron County Emergency Management is going to stay clear of the investigation or of the property.

“We do go back and we keep an eye on the property and people involved when events like this happen. We monitor the progress and make sure that the people responsible are cleaning up and if nothing has happened, as far as clean up, we follow up with TCEQ,” Barrera said. “And sometimes, because of the court process, it takes a while for a resolution.”

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Mark Reagan is a stringer for the Valley Morning Star.