The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and other agencies are still on the scene of an explosion in Roseland Friday afternoon.
The explosion and fire happened around 12:50 p.m. Smitty’s Supply plant in Roseland.
According to Louisiana State Police, the fire remains active and no injuries have been reported.
Air monitoring is being conducted off-site but within the evacuation zone, LSP reports there have not been any indication of health concerns at this time.
Residents are asked to relocate immediately and stay away from the area until further notice.
According to the sheriff’s office, Highway 51 at Highway 10 is closed after the explosion was reported at a nearby business.
No injuries have been reported at this time.
The facility has sustained severe damage, according to State Police.
The cleanup and recovery of the area will be managed by a unified incident command which will consist of State Police, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private contractors.
The Louisiana State Police is reminding residents, visitors, and pilots to check Federal Aviation Administration and Temporary Flight Restrictions before operating manned or unmanned aircraft in the Roseland area.
The TFR is defined as a 3-nautical-mile radius around the Smitty’s incident site and up to 5,000 feet above surface level.
For hazardous materials emergencies, the Hazardous Materials Hotline is staffed by Right-to-Know personnel and serves as the central reporting line for chemical spills or hazardous material incidents.
You can find the Hazardous Materials Hotline and other information can be found here. Transporters, manufacturers, storage facilities, and others handling regulated hazardous materials are required to report incidents immediately.
A mandatory evacuation was issued for those living within a one-mile radius in all directions of Smitty’s.
For immediate medical concerns, please contact the Poison Center Hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222.
EPA has established an emergency response site on EPA’s activities, which can be found here.
Roseland Elementary was evacuated due to the explosion. All students were evacuated to the Central Office, located at 59656 Puleston Rd, Amite City, LA 70422.
The Amite Community Center will serve as an evacuation site for Roseland evacuees.
Parents are asked to pick their children up from that location.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality issued a statement on the explosion in Roseland:
“LDEQ is responding to the reported explosion in Roseland, working in coordination with local authorities. A one-mile radius around the facility has been evacuated. LDEQ is conducting air monitoring on-site, and all readings are zero at this time. The EPA is also responding with a contractor to provide additional air monitoring support. For information about injuries, please check with local authorities. Residents are urged to follow the guidance of local officials and heed evacuation orders and other safety instructions.”
READ MORE:Roseland explosion: Evacuations underway, cause remains unknown
