Turbine catches fire at Rusk County power plant

RUSK COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) - A large fire began Wednesday at Martin Lake Power Plant near Tatum.

The coal power plant, owned by Luminant, is southwest of Tatum in Rusk County. According to the Rusk County OEM’s Support Services Director Michael Searcy, the fire is a “rather serious event.” Searcy later said there is “no threat to the public.”

Around 4:45 p.m., Searcy said the fire was controlled and responders were monitoring hot spots.

According to the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management, the 911 call came in around 10:48 a.m. As of 2:30, they said the scene remained active and crews were set to stay for assistance and investigation.

An eyewitness at the scene informed KLTV that the unit one turbine, which they said contributes to the plant’s energy generation, caught fire.

Searcy said 100 to 150 personnel were at the scene including firefighters and plant staff.

Responders include firefighters from Henderson, Church Hill, Tatum, Elderville-Lakeport, Longview, Crims Chapel, Beckville, Kilgore, and the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office. Texas DPS was en route for technical assistance as of 2 p.m. According to Searcy, Smith County and DPS are assisting through the use of thermal drones.

The parent company for the plant, Vistra, issued a statement later in the day:

“Earlier today, employees at Vistra’s Martin Lake Power Plant detected an electrical fire on the mezzanine level of the plant’s Unit 1. The team reacted quickly, as trained, with the onsite fire brigade responding and also requesting support from outside emergency response agencies. There are no injuries, and there is no threat to public safety. Vistra deeply appreciates local emergency responders' assistance in supporting our efforts to extinguish the fire. The fire is out, and an investigation into its cause is underway.”

No injuries have been reported yet in the incident.