Above, food trucks exploded causing damage to other food trucks located at Allo Eatery, 801 Chestnut Street, San Marcos, on Thursday. Photo courtesy of the City of San Marcos.
San Marcos officials investigating explosions
San Marcos Police and Fire Departments are investigating a series of explosions that occurred early Thursday morning at 801 Chestnut Street in their city.
According to San Marcos Fire Chief Les Stephens, the first call of an explosion was received around 6:03 a.m. The incident occurred behind Allo Eatery, which received its CUP from the City of San Marcos on June 11 and its grand opening was scheduled for this month, RonDooley’s Philly Cheesesteak & Burgers food truck exploded.
“Our units were first arriving on scene at (6:11 a.m.) and began to engage a small fire that was remaining from the first food truck that had exploded, when at 6:20 (a.m.) a second explosion occurred,” Stephens said. “At this point, we have no reports of any injuries.”
Several local businesses around the explosions received damage, along with Vie Lofts, which is adjacent from Allo Eatery. The Snax Max gas station, at 799 LBJ Dr., was damaged. A large window was blown out at Mochas and Javas — 700 N. LBJ Dr. Double Dave’s Pizzaworks, which has yet to open its doors for business, had two of its windows shattered because of the blast. Multiple apartment windows at Vie Lofts were damaged. Debris was seen on LBJ Drive.
“We’ve engaged with the assistance of the railroad commission to help us through the course of the investigation,” Stephens said. “Also, we had our health department out to monitor all of the businesses in the area. We’ve had our city’s building official who will be helping with the structural damage assessment of the buildings that were affected. And then, other city departments have assisted.”
Fire Marshal Kelly Kistner added that at least three other food-related trucks were also damaged.
The incident caused multiple street closures during the morning: LBJ Drive was closed at Sessom Drive. Chestnut Street was closed at LBJ. Forest Drive was also closed at LBJ.
Officials were not able to give the original source of the explosion as the investigation is still ongoing. No injuries have been reported with Thursday morning’s incidents.
“Had anybody been around (the location) when those two major explosions occurred there definitely could’ve been injuries that would’ve resulted, serious injuries and possibly death,” Kistner said.