Evacuation Order Lifted After Fire at Southwest Louisiana Refining Company
An evacuation order was lifted earlier today for residents near Calcasieu Refining, a company in southwest Louisiana. Believed to have been started by a lightning strike, the fire erupted at a chemical storage tank during a storm. Thankfully, the local authorities and several fire brigades took swift action, taming the blaze and ensuring safety for the surrounding community. According to the state police, the fire was fully extinguished early Sunday morning.
The storage tank in question contained the volatile chemical, naphtha, which is derived from petroleum and finds application in various industries. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, which we owe to the effective coordination of emergency services.
The incident prompted an immediate evacuation order for residents within a 1.5-mile radius of the facility. Firefighters worked tirelessly to douse the flames, ultimately putting out the fire around 4 a.m. Sunday morning. Once they were given the clear, authorities made the decision to lift the evacuation order at 6 a.m., allowing residents to return to their homes.
While the area has been declared safe, the aftermath of the incident requires continued surveillance. Trooper Derek Senegal of the Louisiana State Police emphasized that crews will remain on-site for the next several days, carefully monitoring the damaged tank and its contents to ensure the ongoing safety of the public.
Plant explosions and fires pose a significant risk to human life and the environment. Incidents like this serve as a reminder of the potential hazards associated with chemical storage and refining operations. It is crucial for anybody living in the vicinity of a plant to remember safety protocols and companies must work on preventative measures for future incidents.
The personal injury lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys care about our community and urge everyone to do what they can to keep residents safe.
