Watch: Smoke billows after chemical fire breaks out at Mississippi manufacturing plant
Thick smoke billows from chemical fire in Mississippi
Thick smoke billowed from a fire at Howard Industries in Laurel, Mississippi, on Monday. (Credit: Lenard Bob Estacio via Storyfu)
A massive chemical fire broke out at a manufacturing facility in Mississippi on Monday, forcing employees to evacuate as fire crews battled the blaze.
Fire breaks out at Howard Industries
Local perspective:
The fire broke out at a Howard Industries facility in Laurel after a paint booth caught fire next to a tanker truck carrying an explosive substance, Mayor Johnny Magee told local media.
All employees were evacuated, and fire departments across Jones County were called to the scene, according to WDAM-TV. Crews had mostly contained the fire by 8 p.m.
It was not immediately clear whether anyone was injured or how much damage the fire caused.
Thick smoke plumes billowed from a fire at Howard Industries in Laurel, Mississippi, on Monday. (Lenard Bob Estacio via Storyful)
Video shows billows of smoke
Dig deeper:
Video of the aftermath showed thick smoke plumes billowing from the fire.
What they're saying:
"Cloud of black smoke reminds me of the volcanic eruption I experienced as a kid. Worst fire I’ve seen in a long time," employee Lenard Bob Estacio, who recorded the video, wrote in a Facebook post.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from local news reporting from the scene, video captured by a Howard Industries employee who was present on the day of the fire on August 31, 2026, and FOX News. This story was reported from San Jose.