Laurel Fire at Howard Industries Prompts Evacuation
The blaze began in a paint booth near a tanker truck carrying an explosive substance, and officials have not said whether anyone was injured.
- A massive fire broke out Monday at Howard Industries in Laurel, forcing an immediate evacuation of the manufacturing plant on Industrial Boulevard.
- Laurel Mayor Magee reported the fire began in an outdoor paint booth next to a tanker truck, then spread to adjacent equipment causing multiple fires at once.
- Thick smoke from the facility was visible about 30 miles away in Hattiesburg, while witness Brandon Herford Brewer recorded people fleeing and described the heat as unbearable, saying "my face is melting."
- Emergency crews successfully extinguished the fire by 8 p.m. on Monday, allowing Howard Industries to resume normal operations Tuesday, September 1.
- As one of the region's largest employers, the Jones County facility spans over 2 million square feet, having previously evacuated following a fire in 2018.
12 Articles
12 Articles
No injuries reported in Howard Industries fire
LAUREL, Miss. (WHLT) - Firefighters from across Jones County worked for many hours on August 31, 2026, to put out a major fire at Howard Industries in Laurel. Laurel Fire Chief Leo Brown said crews were dispatched to the facility at 2:40 p.m. after a fire started in a paint booth and spread to nearby [...]
A large fire broke out at an industrial facility in Laurel, Mississippi, forcing the evacuation of the plant. The fire broke out in a paint booth at the facility and spread to a point near a tanker truck carrying an explosive substance, according to statements by Laurel Mayor Johnny Meiji to local media. All employees were evacuated from the facility, while fire crews from various Jones County agencies rushed to the scene. Videos posted on socia…
Mississippi Today
DeSoto County NewsMassive fire causes evacuation of Laurel’s Howard Industries
A massive fire broke out at Howard Industries in Laurel on Monday, forcing employees to evacuate. According to a press release from the city of Laurel, the fire began at an outdoor paint booth and spread to adjacent equipment, causing multiple fires at once. The Laurel Fire Department was the first on the scene. Laurel firefighters received help from multiple city and county fire departments, including the Ellisville and Collins departments, acc…
Howard Industries Employees Back to Work After Worksite Fire
Howard Industries in Laurel, Mississippi, has ordered employees back to work a day after a paint booth caught fire next to a tanker truck, sending massive black smoke billowing over the city. The post Howard Industries Employees Ordered Back to Work a Day After Massive Worksite Fire in Laurel appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.
Massive chemical fire erupts at electrical transformer plant in Mississippi, forcing evacuation
A massive industrial fire broke out at a Howard Industries facility in Laurel, Mississippi, after a paint booth caught fire near a tanker truck carrying an explosive substance.
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