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Sparking electrical poles believed to have caused large fire at Coastal Plains Gin in Mathis

No cotton was burned, said Mathis Volunteer Fire Department Chief Adrian Ramirez.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A large fire broke out at the Coastal Plains Gin in Mathis around 1:25 p.m. Friday, burning numerous pallets of cardboard and hand sanitizer.

City of Beeville Community Engagement Director Michelle Myers originally said multiple acres of cotton were burned, but Mathis Volunteer Fire Department Chief Adrian Ramirez said no cotton actually was burned.

"Middle of the day like it was today, the heat will play a factor of getting these people dehydrated," he said. "That's why we reached out to corpus for their AMBUS to start rehabbing our firefighters."

Myers said the fire is believed to have been caused by sparking electrical poles, and that firefighters are working to put out pallets of cardboard and hand sanitizer that caused embers that are adding to the fire.

There are no reported injuries at this time.

San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera said in a social media post that additional fire units are being called out to assist, and residents should be cautious when passing. 

Firefighters & our deputies working on a large fire at the Mathis Cotton Gin. Please watch for additional fire units responding

Posted by Oscar Rivera on Friday, July 14, 2023

This is a developing story. Follow 3NEWS as more information becomes available. 

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