Disasters · Merkel tank firesMerkel oil tank fire: Two tank batteries engulfed, mutual aid sentWritten November 5, 2026 at 6:59 AM UTCWatchTranscript0:07Fire engulfed two oil tank batteries near Merkel.0:11The blaze drew Abilene firefighters and several volunteer fire departments into a0:16mutual aid response.0:18Have crews brought the fire under control.0:20The fire was near Merkel, Texas, around mile marker two sixty-six.0:25The highway and the exact tank site haven't been identified, so the location places0:30the emergency only in the Merkel area.0:32The Abilene Fire Department said two oil tank batteries were engulfed.0:36Firefighters haven't said how many individual storage tanks were involved across0:41those two batteries.0:42Abilene Station Five sent engine five, brush five, ladder five, and hazmat0:48five that put engine brush, ladder, and hazardous materials apparatus into the0:53mutual aid response.0:55Several volunteer fire departments were also at the scene during the response.0:59Battalion one served as command for Abilene.1:03Those deployments describe the response, while the fire's outcome is still unclear.1:08Officials haven't confirmed whether the fire is contained or extinguished.1:12There's no confirmed injury update.1:15For people nearby, evacuation status and road restrictions are also unclear, and1:21officials haven't announced an all-clear.Read the articleStory timelineHeyDex
