Fire erupts near gas guzzler haven, Buc-ee's, in Luling

Another Texas-sized Disaster:

The patriarchal, capitalist facade of the original Buc-ee's in Luling finally came down, both literally and figuratively, in a fiery blaze of glory on Monday morning.

As if Texas needed another reason to be in the news for all the wrong reasons. After all, this is the state that has recently seen an attack on women's reproductive rights, a surge in COVID-19 cases due to ignorant anti-vaxxer attitudes, and a horrific school shooting that could have been prevented with stricter gun laws. Now, add to that a fire at the original site of the notorious Buc-ee's in Luling.

While the new, bigger, and supposedly "improved" Buc-ee's (because everything is bigger in Texas, even their egos and their carbon footprints) remains unscathed, the original location was engulfed in flames during its demolition. The cause is still unknown, but one can't help but wonder if this is some sort of cosmic irony at play, considering Texas' denial of climate change and its devastating effects.

"There was no power or gas hooked up to the building. All utilities were off at the time. We don’t know what happened, but it appears they may have something and it ignited." -Luling Deputy Fire Chief Keith Lohse.

Buc-ee's has become a symbol of Texas pride, with 35 locations across the state alone. But at what cost? The company's success, which began with this very location in 2003, has led to an empire of 49 stores across nine states, all while the state struggles with more pressing issues.

It's time for Texas to focus on its people, not its profits. Maybe this fire is a metaphorical burning down of the old, problematic ways, and a chance to rebuild something better and more equitable.