Evacuations are underway in Garyville, Louisiana Friday (August 25) after a Marathon Petroleum refinery in the town reported a chemical leak and a fire.
The company's crews and emergency services are responding to a release of naphtha, a flammable liquid that can be used as fuel, and a fire at a storage tank at its refinery about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of New Orleans.
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ESJ Prep Academy, Fifth Ward Elementary and ESJ High School have been placed under a shelter in place order due to a fire at Marathon Petroleum.
Riverside Academy has been evacuated to East St. John High School.
GMMS has been evacuated to Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School.— St. John the Baptist Parish Schools (@SJBPS118) August 25, 2023
"The release and fire are contained within the refinery's property and there have been no injuries," Marathon said in a statement, with a company official telling reporters they are doing everything they can to put the fire out and contain the leak.
The Louisiana State Police added evacuations are underway in a two-mile (three-kilometer) radius as a precaution.
Meanwhile, some area schools have been evacuated to other schools, while others are under shelter-in-place orders.
This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates.
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