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AN explosion has rocked a chemical plant in Louisiana, sparking a raging inferno and sending thick smoke billowing into the air.
Residents have been ordered to evacuate due to health concerns after some reported being able to “taste the air” as oily rain continues to fall in Roseland, a town located 50 miles northeast of Baton Rouge.
The Smitty’s Supply plant, responsible for producing vehicle lubricants, experienced an explosion on Friday afternoon. Officials are still actively working to put out the fire.
In an update on Saturday night, the fire was 90% contained.
No one has been injured in the shocking incident, which Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said was a “godsend”.
As the fire persists at the plant, releasing chemicals into the atmosphere, locals report being doused in oil, raising alarm over potential health risks.
Government officials have said they are monitoring air quality levels in the area and that so far there is no danger to the public.
“We are monitoring this situation closely,” Louisiana governor Jeff Landry wrote on X on Friday.
In a Saturday update he added: “The situation at Smitty’s Supply is devastating and Sharon and I have Tangipahoa Parish in our prayers.
“We are working closely with local officials to extinguish the fire.
“This is still an ongoing situation, and we urge all in the area to continue following evacuation guidance.”
An evacuation has been mandated for all residents within a one-mile radius of the plant. Additionally, an elementary school was closed on Friday, and a shuttle bus was used to transport children to another town.
But still, those living in nearby areas have reported rain mixed with oil falling on their homes and vehicles.
“You got oil on the ground, oil on the road,” 66-year-old Gerri Stout who evacuated with her husband told NOLA.com.
“We got oil on our car, and we brought our car with us to the shelter.”
HEALTH FEARS
Stout who has been diagnosed with asthma and lung disease said the impact of the air quality on her body has been “really bad”.
The pair fled their home to Amite City, almost three miles south of Roseland, where others have also gone to.
Ross Cutrer arrived at the safe zone and immediately took his vehicle to a car wash on Saturday morning to remove the unusual black substance.
“I don’t dwell on it. But I did have a sore throat last night,” he told the outlet.
“You can kind of taste it in the air.”
On Saturday, Sergeant William Hugging from the Louisiana State Police stated that air quality monitoring detected “non-detect levels or results below any actionable thresholds.”
However, residents have disputed this statement, with Jamie-David DeLaughter commenting on Facebook: “Right… Convincing people that live only 2 miles away, might be tricky.”
“Our yard is covered in oil. The air quality is very likely to not be safe.”
He later added that one of his dogs had started “wheezing” and that the air quality was “irritating” him and his children’s asthma.
His previous posts show pictures of thick oil covering the ground, the American flag hanging outside his home, and the porch after “it rained oil” for over 45 minutes.
The plant stores ethanol, charcoal lighter fluid, gas oil mixture, motor oil, lubricants and hydraulic fluids, diesel, brake fluid, grease, and several unnamed water-based chemicals, it told state regulators in 2023.
“We are doing our best to protect people, structures and the environment,” Miller said in Friday’s press conference.
“We know there are a lot of questions. We’re working to get answers,” he added on Saturday.
“We’re fighting a big fire. It’s not as big as yesterday, but it’s still big.”
It is not yet known what caused the explosion at the plant which employs around 400 people.
Louisiana State Police have said that more answers are expected once the fire has been fully extinguished, at which point a major clean-up operation will be underway and a hotline set up.
One has already been established for wildlife impacted by the chemicals at (832) 514-9663.
Meanwhile, water samples are being collected to assess how run off and oily rain is impacting the wider water quality, notably that of the Tangipahoa River which runs through Roseland.
Full Statement – Multi-Agency Emergency Response to Chemical Release in Roseland
The following update was issued on Saturday evening by Louisiana State Police and other agencies:
The fire at the incident location is now 90% contained. Response crews have worked diligently throughout the day and will continue operations through the night to strengthen containment and support recovery efforts.
Recovery operations are also underway in nearby waterways to address potential environmental impacts.
Contractors are staged along multiple sites of the Tangipahoa River, conducting booming operations to trap and recover product.
Additional crews are also working to identify nearby smaller waterways, such as creeks and watering holes, where significant amounts of product may also be present.
An initial wildlife hotline has been established to assist with impacted wildlife reports.
The hotline number is 832-514-9663. Calls will be managed by an operator, and all information provided will be immediately transmitted to the Environmental Unit Leader for dissemination to State and U.S. Wildlife Agencies.
Do not attempt to capture or handle any impacted wildlife.
When reporting, please provide the following details: Observer’s name, GPS location of sighting, time observed, species identified, nature of impact (deceased, injured, covered in oil).
The responsible party, Smitty’s, is still developing a dedicated claims hotline.
Additional information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
The hotline will provide information and support on how to submit claims and address community concerns.
The mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for a one-mile radius around the incident site.
In addition, the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is still established over the incident location.
The TFR extends three nautical miles around the Smitty’s site and up to 5,000 feet above surface level, prohibiting all unauthorized aircraft, including drones, from entering the restricted airspace.
These measures are in place to ensure public safety and to allow emergency responders to operate without interference.
For the most current information and updates, please visit the FAA’s official TFR website at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html.
