ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, La. — After a morning filled with thick black smoke, evacuation orders and school alerts; St. John The Baptist Parish officials have lifted the emergency orders related to a chemical fire at the Marathon Petroleum plant in Garyville.
St John The Baptist Parish officials had evacuated a two-mile radius around the plant. That order has been lifted, according to a statement from Parish President Jaclyn Hotard just after 2 p.m.
Eyewitness News reporter Paul Murphy had been at the scene in Garyville on Friday, where firefighters battled a growing dark cloud amid nearly triple-digit temperatures.
The fire apparently started at 7 a.m. and was caused by the release of naphtha, a flammable liquid used to make gasoline.
The product was leaking out of a storage tank and somehow ignited, According to Justin Lawrence, a spokesperson for Marathon Petroleum.
Chemical fire engulfs Louisiana refinery
At 7 p.m., a toll-free number was made available for any community members who have been impacted by the incident and have a claim. The number is (866) 601-5880.
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