The Evacuation has been lifted and all roads are now open in Winnsboro. Air Quality and the risk of danger have been deemed concluded.
As Hopkins County Emergency Management Planning Team met Tuesday morning to continue preparation toward a table-top emergency drill, in Winnsboro Tuesday afternoon the City of Winnsboro and Wood County began responding to a fire at Valley Feed Mill, 1211 E. Coke Road in Winnsboro. The response to the fire became a became a full-blown response to potential disaster. The fire is under control as of early Wednesday. However, smoke, gasses and fumes that the fire is emitting remain a concern. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Department of Public Safety, Wood County Emergency Management/Fire Marshall, and local Fire Departments and Haz-Mat organizations are on scene and responding to the emergency.
A one-half mile area was evacuated as the fire spread through the facility. The evacuation stretched along East Broadway Street from Walnut to FM 515 and from FM 852 to Highway 11. All businesses with in the evacuation zone are close until further notice. No deliveries will be made or received. Keller’s Creamery is within the evacuation zone. Residents in the area have been evacuated. Some of those residents are in hotels in Mt Pleasant.
No school campuses are affected by the area.
The air quality will be retested and weather conditions evaluated Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. At that time, decisions will be made regarding a proper response to the emergency.
