Three Alarm Fire consumes local business warehouse

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

A three alarm fire consumed a large warehouse of longstanding U.S. Customs House Broker, T. H. Gonzalez & Sons, Inc. at 1100 Industrial Boulevard, Eagle Pass, Texas, on Thursday, December 4, 2014.

The Eagle Pass Fire Department responded to the three alarm fire and extinguished the blaze, but not before the fire burned the warehouse to the ground. The local fire department had over 35 firemen battling the huge blaze which burned for over 10 hours.

The warehouse was full of export and import products, which burned completely sustaining a total loss. The fire happened in the Eagle Pass Industrial Park, operated by the Maverick County Development Corporation, near the Union Pacific Railroad line and Industrial Park Boulevard, causing several businesses to close down for safety reasons concerning their employees and merchandise.

The large blaze billowed smoke high into the atmosphere causing visibility to be diminished in the Eagle Pass Industrial Park, the City of Eagle Pass Camino Real International Bridge, El Indio Highway, and several residential subdivisions located near the fire. The fire continued after controlling it and ensuring that it did not spread to other nearby businesses and buildings.

In addition to the Eagle Pass Fire Department, the Eagle Pass Police Department assisted with traffic control and safety notification of neighboring businesses and residential areas.

There are no injuries reported. Damages are high and unknown as of press time. The warehouse and its merchandise inside it were a total loss.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Eagle Pass Fire Department Fire Marshal.