Evacuation Order Lifted as Fire at Louisiana's Marathon Petroleum Refinery Comes Under Control

A significant fire that erupted at a refinery storage tank near Garyville, Louisiana, approximately 40 miles west of New Orleans, has been successfully brought under control by fire crews, as stated by authorities.

In response to the emergency, a mandatory evacuation order was promptly enacted on Friday morning, encompassing a two-mile radius around the facility. However, later in the afternoon, the evacuation directive was lifted by Jaclyn Hotard, the President of St. John the Baptist Parish, according to an official statement from the parish.

The official statement provided clarity on the situation, affirming that the fire has been contained and restricted to the common containment-dike area, which encloses two tanks situated on the premises of the refinery. Regrettably, both tanks have sustained damage due to the incident.

As the immediate concern turns to ascertaining the origins of the incident, it has been announced that a thorough investigation will be conducted to identify the cause.

Marathon Petroleum has corroborated that the fire has been effectively confined to the confines of the refinery's property. However, it has been reported that one firefighter is currently being evaluated for heat stress.

Justin Lawrence, the human resources manager for Marathon, clarified the specifics of the situation during a news conference on Friday. He emphasized, "The tank itself is not on fire," elaborating that the fire has manifested around the perimeter of a tank. This tank contains a substance known as naphtha, which is a partially refined product utilized as a component in gasoline production. To clarify, he reiterated that the actual tank is unaffected, and the combustion pertains to the naphtha pooling around its exterior.

Initially, the flames were described as relatively subdued, and efforts were concentrated on using foam to control and subdue the fire along with its fumes. However, as the day progressed and temperatures rose, the fire regained strength, resulting in sporadic flare-ups that became more challenging to manage.

CNN has taken steps to obtain further information from entities including the St. John the Baptist Parish's office of emergency management, the fire department, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

Marathon Petroleum's primary focus remains the safety and well-being of their employees, contractors, neighboring communities, and first responders, along with minimizing any potential environmental impact. They have affirmed their commitment to conducting a comprehensive investigation to identify the cause behind the release that triggered the incident.

Presently, the utmost priority is the swift extinguishing of the fire. Lawrence emphasized that efforts are being diligently directed toward this goal. According to an update released by St. John the Baptist Parish on Friday night, while a significant portion of the fire has been brought under control, firefighting professionals continue to work on suppressing flare-ups. Occasional smoke sightings from the facility may persist, but firefighting operations will persist until all risks of further fire outbreaks are eliminated and confidence in the situation is restored.