Dish-Houston

The Houston fire department for hours battled a blaze at a plastics recycling plant in East Houston. The fire broke out around 11 a.m. at the Amtech plant located in the the historic fifth ward.

Thick black smoke and shooting flames were caused by the petroleum-based products housed inside.

Part of the plant’s roof caved in and firemen went into defensive mode and started attacking the fire from three sides.

District Chief Tommy Dowdy said once things got started it was hard to put it out. The city’s water department had to boost the pressure to assist crews in controlling the flames.

Almost one month ago, a neighboring plant also burned under similar circumstances.

No one was injured.