Weather Alert
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Texas...Sabine River At Longview affecting Rusk and Gregg Counties.For the Sabine River...including Mineola, Hawkins, Gladewater,Longview, Beckville, Logansport...Moderate flooding is forecast.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Do not drive cars through flooded areas.Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flooddeaths occur in vehicles.Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drivecars through flooded areas.For more hydrologic information, copy and paste the following websiteaddress into your favorite web browser URL bar:https://water.noaa.gov/wfo/SHVThe next statement will be issued Saturday evening at 845 PM CDT.&&...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...* WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding isforecast.* WHERE...Sabine River at Longview.* WHEN...Until further notice.* IMPACTS...At 35.0 feet, Expect severe flooding of several thousandacres of river bottom along with petroleum equipment, secondaryroadways, and several structures. Preparations should be completedfor a major flooding event.* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...- At 8:00 PM CDT Friday the stage was 34.2 feet.- Bankfull stage is 25.0 feet.- Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hoursending at 8:00 PM CDT Friday was 35.0 feet.- Forecast...The river is expected to fall to 31.1 feetWednesday evening.- Flood stage is 25.0 feet.- Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of34.2 feet on 05/01/1973.- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood&&
Weather Alert
...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Texas...Sabine River Near Beckville affecting Panola, Rusk, Harrison andGregg Counties.For the Sabine River...including Mineola, Hawkins, Gladewater,Longview, Beckville, Logansport...Moderate flooding is forecast.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Do not drive cars through flooded areas.Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flooddeaths occur in vehicles.Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drivecars through flooded areas.For more hydrologic information, copy and paste the following websiteaddress into your favorite web browser URL bar:https://water.noaa.gov/wfo/SHVThe next statement will be issued Saturday evening at 845 PM CDT.&&...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE...* WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding isforecast.* WHERE...Sabine River near Beckville.* WHEN...Until further notice.* IMPACTS...At 30.0 feet, Expect moderate to severe flooding of thelowland floodplain for the next several days.* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...- At 7:45 PM CDT Friday the stage was 30.1 feet.- Bankfull stage is 25.0 feet.- Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hoursending at 7:45 PM CDT Friday was 30.2 feet.- Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 30.2feet just after midnight tonight.- Flood stage is 26.0 feet.- Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of30.3 feet on 05/17/2019.- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood&&
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Multiple fire departments responded to a large fire at the Rivers Recycling facility at 298 FM 1252 West north of Kilgore. (Jordan Green/Longview News-Journal)
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Casi Hammer of Sabine Fire and Rescue responds Wednesday evening to a large fire at the Rivers Recycling facility at 298 FM 1252 W. north of Kilgore. (Jordan Green/Longview News-Journal Photo)
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Multiple fire departments are responding to a large fire at the Rivers Recycling facility at 298 FM 1252 W. north of Kilgore. (Jordan Green/Longview News-Journal Photo)
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Multiple fire departments responded to a large fire at the Rivers Recycling facility at 298 FM 1252 West north of Kilgore. (Jordan Green/Longview News-Journal)
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Casi Hammer of Sabine Fire and Rescue responds Wednesday evening to a large fire at the Rivers Recycling facility at 298 FM 1252 W. north of Kilgore. (Jordan Green/Longview News-Journal Photo)
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Multiple fire departments are responding to a large fire at the Rivers Recycling facility at 298 FM 1252 W. north of Kilgore. (Jordan Green/Longview News-Journal Photo)
Kilgore Fire Marshal Ryan Riley said a fire that started Wednesday evening at the Rivers Recycling facility could burn for two to three days, but no immediate public safety threat exists.
Kilgore firefighters responded to the property, 298 FM 1252 West, at 5:58 p.m. Wednesday, Riley said. Upon arrival, crews found the east end of the facility’s main building was fully engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spread to the rest of the structure.
Firefighters worked into the night Wednesday to contain the blaze, as extinguishing the fire is challenging because of its size — and because of a lack of fire hydrants in the rural area, Riley said.
Crews from Kilgore, White Oak and Sabine were at the scene, as well as Gregg County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
The facility contains cardboard and plastic, which will continue to burn, Riley said. He said he doesn’t expect the fire to create any public health concerns.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been notified of the blaze and was expected to conduct air quality monitoring.
Jason Skinner, Rivers Recycling’s general manager, said employees left at 5 p.m. Wednesday, and “everything was good.”
About an hour later, he learned about the fire.
No one was at the facility when the fire started, Skinner said, adding that “I can’t wrap my mind around it right now.”
The main metal building at the facility was destroyed by the blaze, and a semi-truck trailer was on fire as well. The building is roughly 37,000 square feet, according to online property records from the Gregg County Appraisal District.
Firefighters worked to prevent an office building on the property from sustaining damage, spraying water on it to keep it cool.
Cars lined parts of the road near the facility, and employees watched the blaze from the road. Several yards west of the entrance, Jayla Thomaschaske, Brayden Thomaschaske and Takayah Wilson watched as smoke rolled into the East Texas sky.
The Thomaschaskes’ father works at the facility, Jayla Thomaschaske said, and she was frightened when she learned that the building had caught on fire.
“At the time, I didn’t know if they were at work or what was going on,” she said. “I rushed down here, and I got here, and all I seen was flames — a lot of flames, big flames.
“What was going through my head was, ‘I hope my dad’s not in there.’”
She was relieved to learn that employees had left the facility about an hour before the fire was reported, she said.
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