Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
A fire with explosions on Tuesday afternoon rocked an asphalt plant at Versatile Construction Co. on Tucumcari's north side.
Tucumcari city commissioner Chris Arias stated on social media he'd talked to acting city manager Mark Martinez, who told him there were no injuries. He also said firefighters were beginning to approach the blaze to extinguish it.
Quay County Emergency Management texted out alerts, urging residents to avoid the area of Maple and Campbell avenues because of a “large industrial fire with explosions” at Versatile.
The fire billowed thick, black smoke high into the air that could be seen for miles around the region.
Firetrucks initially parked along Quay Road AP west of the fire, along with an ambulance.
Police blocked roads leading to the area for about a one-mile radius around the fire, including northbound Highway 104 at the Main Street intersection.
E'Laura Ann Chavez, who lives on North Seventh Street near Versatile, said in a text that authorities briefly evacuated a one-mile radius around the fire but those residents were allowed to return home.
A Quay County sheriff's deputy at one of the blockades said firefighters probably would let the fire burn itself down before approaching it because of the risk from propane tank explosions.
The fire was extinguished by early evening. A phone message to Fire Chief Doug Hogan wasn't immediately returned.
