roseland, Louisiana – A large explosion at Smitty’s Supply, a lubricant manufacturer in Tangipahoa parish, prompted mandatory evacuations Friday afternoon. The incident, reported shortly before 1 p.m. local time, sent a significant plume of smoke into the air and triggered a series of small, ongoing explosions.
Officials initially ordered a mandatory evacuation for those in the immediate vicinity of the plant, expanding the zone to a 1-mile radius. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office advised residents to “Relocate INSTANTLY and stay away from this area until further notice” via X, formerly known as Twitter. Residents needing to retrieve medication or pets were instructed to coordinate with the Sheriff’s Office for an escorted return.
An elementary school within the evacuation zone evacuated students to a safe location in Amite City.
As of late Friday afternoon, no injuries had been reported, a fact Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller called “a godsend” during a press briefing. The cause of the explosion remains under examination.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is monitoring the environmental impact. Water samples are being collected for analysis, and officials are investigating the composition of the soot resulting from the fire. Initial air quality readings indicated results “below an actionable threshold,” according to Huggins.
Smitty’s Supply manufactures and distributes a range of lubricants, including motor oils. The plant employs approximately 400 people, Miller stated.
Highway 51 at Highway 10 in Roseland remains closed following the explosion. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stated, “We are monitoring this situation closely. Please follow the guidance of your local officials. We are praying for everyone’s safety.”
ABC news’ Jessica Gorman contributed to this report.
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