Seven fire departments responded to a fire at an NRG power-generation plant in Fort Bend County overnight.
Thompsons Fire Chief Keeland Spaulding told reporters a coal unit caught fire just before midnight at the W.A. Parish Generating Station, 2500 Yu Jones Road near Smithers Lake.
NRG owns and operates the plant which is presently shut down due to the fire. It's the largest power producer for the Houston region and has been controversial for its high pollution levels. NRG says its other Houston-area plants “are available to make up for any lost power.”
No injuries were reported, and NRG says there is no danger to the community or the environment.
An NRG spokesman identified the building as Unit 8, one of the steam-powered plants at the facility.
At about 5 this morning, the company said the blaze was mostly under control and that crews were just monitoring for hot spots. The fire's cause was not immediately clear.