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

Early Tuesday morning, fire crews could be seen battling the massive southeast Houston fire first reported Monday afternoon.

SkyEye13 flew over the area again just before 6 a.m. and captured massive smoke still coming out of the recycling facility.

Several fire trucks and firefighters could be seen responding to the active scene.

Authorities have not yet given an update on their efforts to put off the fire as it reaches its second day.

The Houston Health Department said it is monitoring the air quality in residential areas surrounding the fire at the recycling facility.

HFD said it also added its "Mobile Ambient Air Monitoring Lab" to the nearest area.

"At this time, the reading for dangerous particles in the air remains below the National Ambient Air Quality Standard level of concern, and no serious air quality concerns have been reported," the department added in their statement.

Residents watched a massive fire burn for hours Monday at a metal recycling facility, raising concerns about air quality as thick black smoke billowed over the neighborhood.

Victoria Delafuente said she woke from an afternoon nap around 3 p.m. to find the fire burning just outside her window.

"It's very concerning for us in this neighborhood," she said. "I'm just praying everything is under control."

Firefighters attacked the blaze from above as residents gathered to watch. While north winds appeared to help keep smoke away from their homes, some neighbors remained worried about potential health impacts.

State records show Dallas-based Mammoth Metal Recycling has been operating on Kellogg in southeast Houston since 2023. Federal court records show the company was later named in a $53 million fraud case tied to the Paycheck Protection Program, a COVID-era relief program. The company's owner was charged along with 13 others, pleaded guilty, and is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Harris County records also show the company owes more than $100,000 in delinquent taxes. Attorneys and the company did not respond to requests for comment.

SEE FULL REPORT: Owner of burning recycling facility tied to COVID-era fraud scheme, records say

The Houston Fire Department said that crews will continue to battle the ferocious flames of the southeast Houston tire fire on Tuesday into the overnight hours.

Fire officials said that units have been on the scene since 2:50 p.m. According to HFD, there are about 200 firefighters on the scene.

Air monitoring is underway after crews battle a massive southeast Houston fire for several hours.

As of 6 p.m., HFD said that there are no injuries to any firefighters at the scene.

As of 6:30 p.m., there is no shelter-in-place order, according to HFD.