Firefighters in Tangipahoa Parish continue to work on putting out a massive fire at Smitty’s Supply oil facility, a lubricants plant in Roseland. It started Friday, when the facility exploded, forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,000 people. Black soot can be seen on homes, businesses and cars in the area. Tangipahoa Parish President Robbie Miller says if you’re able to clean the soot off our property, you can do so.
“You know, make sure again, that you don’t leave it on your body for very long. Don’t let it get your mouth. Wash your hands. They’re telling me not to say this, but I can’t help it. Don’t lick your car clean. I mean, just, that’s the biggest thing. Don’t ingest that product,” Miller said.
Miller says the soot is being tested by environmental regulators, but the results are not available yet.
A portion of the Tangipahoa River is closed as a result of chemicals and oil that have made it into that waterway. Miller says there is a cleanup effort underway.
“There’s 5,600 feet of boom in the river at about 14 locations up and down the river covering 31 miles. So there’s stages of it. It’s layered to catch a little each time and to deal with it as it comes down the river,” Miller explained.
Residents in the area can also smell oil and grease. But Miller says they are constantly testing the air quality.
“The air quality has been tested probably within two hours of the fire starting, through right now, and continues to go. Our air quality has always been safe. Throughout the whole event, the air quality has been safe,” Miller noted.
