The Corpus Christi Caller-Times

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A potential toxic chemical fire late Saturday at a waste disposal site landfill midway between Robstown and Petronila prompted Texas Commission on Environmental Quality officials to investigate.

The fire, at the US Ecology Texas facility, a hazardous-waste disposal company, was reported by facility officials to be in a nonhazardous portion of the landfill, said Susan Clewis, regional director with the Corpus Christi office of the commission.

A pit filled with "junk" was extinguished by Robstown and Annaville volunteer firefighters within an hour, said Gary Spicak, firefighter for the Robstown responders.

"It was never out of control," Spicak said, "Annaville firefighters sprayed foam on it, and we put dirt over it and wet it down."

Kelly Ruble, waste section work leader for the commission, said the thick, black smoke was caused by plastic and rubber hoses burning.

Early off-site air quality samples taken by the Annaville firefighters showed no cause for concern, he said.

An investigator with the commission will gather more information today, Clewis said.

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