UPDATE: A mandatory evacuation of a two-mile radius around the Marathon refinery in Garyville has been lifted, St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard announced Friday afternoon.
Crews are on the scene of a billowing blaze at the Marathon Oil refinery on Airline Highway in Garyville. Authorities are calling on everyone within two miles of the plant to evacuate, according to Louisiana State Police.
"Marathon Petroleum personnel and local emergency responders are currently responding to a naphtha release and fire at a storage tank at the company’s Garyville, Louisiana, refinery," Marathon said in a statement.
Officials say that the release and fire are contained within the refinery’s property and there have been no injuries.
"As a precaution, air monitoring has been deployed in the community. No off-site impacts have been detected. All regulatory notifications have been made."
There was no initial word on what led to the chemical release and fire.
"An investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the release."
St. John released the following:
St. John the Baptist Parish – St. John Parish President Jaclyn Hotard lifts the Precautionary Mandatory Evacuation for the two-mile radius by Marathon Petroleum.
Please see below information from Marathon:
• Marathon Petroleum personnel and local emergency responders continue responding to a fire at the company’s Garyville, Louisiana, refinery.
• The fire is currently under control and has remained within the common containment-dike area of two tanks on the refinery’s property. Both tanks have sustained damage.
• As always, our main priority is to ensure the safety of our employees and contractors, our neighbors within our surrounding community, first responders, and to limit environmental impact.
• An investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident.
All roads have reopened.