Authorities lifted a shelter-in-place order early Tuesday morning for residents of Plaquemine, Louisiana, following a fire and subsequent chlorine spill at a local Dow Chemical facility.
The fire was doused shortly after a leak erupted from a third-party tenant at the Dow facility, an official from the sheriff’s office of Iberville parish said.
The spokesperson added that the number of casualties was not immediately known.
Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi said the fire broke out at the plant at around 8:40 p.m. Monday, spurring a shelter-in-place order for residents near the facility.
The order was lifted with an all-clear given just after midnight.
Almost simultaneously, a chlorine spill was reported. Stassi added that emergency sirens were sounded in the area to warn residents of the danger.
Authorities lifted an order early Tuesday morning that had told residents of Plaquemine in the U.S. state of Louisiana to shelter in place following a fire and chlorine spill at Olin Corp’s plant located on the property of Dow Chemical
The fire was doused shortly after the leak from the Olin plant, a third-party tenant at the Dow facility, an official from the sheriff’s office of Iberville parish said, adding that the number of casualties was not immediately known
‘We continue to monitor the air quality of the area,’ an official for the sheriff’s office said by telephone.
Olin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Parish President Mitch Ourso said that the smell of chlorine was being noticed by residents in the air at least several miles from the facility.
State police have also closed Louisiana Highway 1 in both directions near the plant, the department said on Twitter.
An order to shelter in place, issued during a state of emergency, requires people to stay indoors and not leave unless necessary.
The Olin plant, located on the property of Dow Chemical in Plaquemine
Iberville Sheriff Brett Stassi
Stassi said that chlorine levels outside of the plant were not at a level that they would term dangerous, which is why no evacuations were being ordered.
Officials also shut down the local highway in both directions near the scene of the fire and spill.