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What caused the Louisiana chemical plant explosion? Facility engulfed in flames, residents forced into shelter-in-place order

Dramatic footage captured the moment a massive mushrooming plume of smoke and flames engulfed the plant, sending shockwaves through the community

PLAQUEMINE, LOUISIANA: In a terrifying turn of events, Dow's Plaquemine chemical facility was consumed by flames on Friday night, July 14, leaving nearby residents in a state of panic and forcing them into a shelter-in-place order. Dramatic footage captured the moment when a massive mushrooming plume of smoke and flames engulfed the plant, sending shockwaves through the community.

What caused the Louisiana chemical plant explosion?

Local authorities swiftly responded to the crisis, issuing shelter-in-place orders to more than 350 households in the vicinity of the facility. Residents were instructed to shut off their air conditioners as a precautionary measure. To ensure public safety, the LA 1 Highway between Sid Richardson and Bayou Jacob was temporarily closed. Dow promptly activated its Emergency Operations Center to manage the fire and communicated with city officials, assuring them that all individuals at the facility had been accounted for and no injuries were reported. However, the cause of the incident is still under investigation, ABC 13 reported.

As news of the fire spread, concerns about potential chemical leaks arose. Dow immediately commenced air quality testing, which, thus far, has not detected any leaks from the Mississippi River facility. Nevertheless, the state Department of Environmental Quality deployed its own teams to conduct air monitoring as a precautionary measure. "We are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to ensuring the safety of the community and the environment," stated Greg Langley, spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Quality. The agency's crews will work alongside Dow's monitoring efforts to gather comprehensive data on air quality along Highway 1, within the community, and around the affected facility.

Ethylene oxide, a potent chemical

Dow's Gylcol 2 Unit, the area where the incident occurred, specializes in the production and handling of ethylene oxide, a highly flammable and explosive chemical, as confirmed by parish officials. Ethylene oxide is primarily used as a sterilizing agent but also finds applications in anti-freeze and various other industries. The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified ethylene oxide as a human carcinogen, in the event of long-term exposure. However, acute short-term exposure can lead to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, respiratory problems, and vomiting.

The explosions at the Dow facility in Iberville Parish were so powerful that they shook homes in the nearby state capital, Baton Rouge, according to reports from WAFB TV. Kenneth Haydel, a local resident who witnessed the incident while in his car, shared his harrowing experience, saying, "Me and my family had been out fishing having a good time, next thing you know the thing blew up three times back-to-back. We looked up in the sky, and the whole thing was lit up, and we saw all the chemical smoke right up behind it. It was a terrible situation." Haydel added, "We knew that was nothing normal."

Videos capturing the catastrophic event circulated widely on social media, portraying the colossal flames and a mushroom cloud ascending into the sky. The visuals served as a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation and the potential dangers faced by the surrounding community.

History of incidents raises concerns

This incident comes only a year after a hazardous chlorine leak occurred at Dow's neighboring facility, Olin Chemical, within the 1,500-acre complex north of Plaquemine. Last April, nearby residents were also subjected to a shelter-in-place order due to another incident at the plant. The chlorine leak resulted in 39 individuals being hospitalized with mild symptoms, sparking concerns about the adequacy of air monitoring by Dow in the community. Both the Department of Environmental Quality and parish officials later revealed that the extent of the chlorine leak had been underreported by Olin Chemical and Dow, further intensifying scrutiny of the petrochemical facilities' operations.

In November 2019, the Glycol 2 Unit at Dow experienced a significant incident when a tank ruptured following a massive power outage. The resulting shock wave was felt as far away as Zachary, highlighting the far-reaching impact of such events. Dow's Plaquemine chemical facility, one of Louisiana's largest petrochemical facilities, encompasses a sprawling complex spanning 1,500 acres. The site employs over 3,000 company and contract personnel, operating across 12 production units, per the Plaquemine Post-South.