At approximately 1330 on Monday, June 25, 2007, a five-alarm fire at the former Alford refrigeration Warehouse sent large plumes of black smoke into the air and downtown Dallas. The EPA response duty officer, OSC Martin, was mobilized from the Dallas regional office to investigate. OSC Martin offered air monitoring assistance to the Fire Department but since there were no suspected hazardous materials involved in the blaze, the offer was declined. Media attention and public concern was great due to the high visibility of the plume.
A company demolishing the warehouse, Lioyd Nabors Dmolition, stated the cause of the fire was most probably two metal beams that fell and struck each other thereby causing sparks to catch nearby trash fire. Moderate winds from the south spread the fire throughout the warehouse which had already been partially demolished. They also stated that the warehouse had been inspected and approved for demo and that no hazardous materials were left in the building.
