Thick black smoke rolled over Converse on Saturday afternoon as a fast-moving fire ripped through three semi-trailers along Farm-to-Market 1516 North, burning so hot it drew a multi-agency swarm of firefighters and hazmat teams. One of the rigs was a fuel tanker, and while crews attacked the flames, hazardous-materials specialists scrambled to contain a major diesel spill. Officials said the fire was fully put out and no injuries were reported.
Fire crews were dispatched around 1:30 p.m. and arrived to find all three semi-trailers in heavy flames, including the tanker, Bexar County ESD #10 Fire Chief Dewey G. Coy told WOAI. Thick smoke and intense heat forced a coordinated attack by several local departments before firefighters could wrestle the blaze under control, the station reported. Coy said crews ultimately knocked down the fire and confirmed there were no reported injuries.
According to the Bexar County ESD #10 website, the district covers several east-side stations and lists Dewey Coy as its fire chief, the same official who briefed reporters on the response. The site also provides the fire district’s main phone number and station addresses for residents who need public information or services.
Hazmat Response And Environmental Risk
County hazmat teams moved quickly to keep the incident from turning into an environmental mess. An estimated 400 gallons of diesel spilled from the tractor-trailers, but crews contained the fuel on site while firefighters wrapped up suppression and cleanup efforts, according to WOAI.
Under Texas rules, any petroleum product released onto land in amounts of 25 gallons or more hits the state’s reportable-quantity threshold and must be reported to regulators. That threshold, along with other spill reporting guidance, is detailed on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s spill pages at TCEQ. The estimated volume in Converse, if confirmed in a follow-up report, is far above that line and is expected to trigger required notifications and a 30-day follow-up filing.
Investigation And Local Impact
Investigators have not yet said what sparked the fire and will continue examining the scene and any available vehicle records to piece together how it started. People living or driving near the area may have dealt with heavy smoke and short-term traffic disruptions while emergency crews worked the incident.
Officials said any new safety guidance or significant developments from the investigation or cleanup will be shared through official channels as they become available. This article will be updated if additional information is released.
