GARYVILLE, La. — An investigation is underway to determine the cause of a fire and explosion at the Marathon Refinery that rocked the River Parishes Monday morning and left six people with minor injuries.
First responders rushed to the Garyville plant shortly after 9 a.m. The blast happened in one of the petroleum producing units. A witness captured cellphone video of a plume of smoke and flames rising from the facility. Fire crews sprayed water on the unit for much of the morning.
The explosion closed parts of Airline Highway for a time. The plant gave the "all clear" before noon.
“There’s no threat to the community,” said Trooper Kate Stegall from the Louisiana State Police. “It’s an active investigation that we have troopers on scene from our emergency services unit.”
St. John Parish President Jaclyn Hotard said the explosion and fire were contained on Marathon property.
“At this time, there are no fatalities or injuries reported,” Hotard said.
Emergency officials said there were no offsite impacts from the explosion. Neighbors said the blast could be heard and felt miles away from the plant. Leonce Haydel lives in north LaPlace about 6 miles from the refinery.
“I was walking, doing my exercise, walking around the block and I just heard the explosion,” Haydel said. “Then I hear the gas escaping. My wife and family were still in the house, and it shook the house.”
The state Department of Environmental Quality confirms plant workers were ordered to shelter in place after the blast. LDEQ is now monitoring the air quality in communities surrounding the Marathon refinery.
A department spokesman said as of Monday afternoon, there have been no above normal readings.
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