Residents in Garyville, Louisiana, have been temporarily evacuated due to a fire at a refinery storage tank, according to Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The fire, which is contained to the refinery’s property, is located about 40 miles west of New Orleans and has not resulted in any injuries.
Justin Lawrence, the human resources manager for Marathon, clarified that the fire is not directly affecting the tank itself but is instead around the perimeter of the tank. The product in the tank is a naphtha product, which is a partially refined product used in the production of gasoline.
Lawrence emphasized that the fire is not inside the tank but rather around the perimeter where the naphtha is pooling. Initially, the flame was described as “lazy,” and efforts were made to contain it by applying foam. However, as the day progressed and temperatures rose, the fire reignited and became more challenging to control.
CNN has reached out to various local authorities, including the St. John the Baptist Parish office of emergency management, fire department, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, for further information on the incident.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation stated that their top priority is ensuring the safety of their employees, contractors, and the surrounding community. They also aim to limit any potential environmental impact. An investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the release.
The current focus is on extinguishing the fire as quickly as possible, according to Lawrence.
What measures are being taken to control and extinguish the fire at the refinery storage tank in Garyville, Louisiana?
Residents in Garyville, Louisiana, have been evacuated temporarily due to a fire at a refinery storage tank, announced Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The fire, which is contained within the refinery’s property, is situated approximately 40 miles west of New Orleans and has caused no injuries.
Marathon’s human resources manager, Justin Lawrence, clarified that the fire is not directly impacting the tank itself, but rather the area surrounding it. The tank contains a naphtha product, which is a partially refined substance utilized in gasoline production.
Lawrence stressed that the fire is not inside the tank but is instead concentrated around the perimeter where the naphtha has collected. Initially, the flames were described as “lazy,” and efforts were made to control them by applying foam. However, as the day progressed and temperatures increased, the fire reignited and became more difficult to manage.
CNN has contacted local authorities, including the St. John the Baptist Parish emergency management office, fire department, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, for additional information regarding the incident.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation has stated that their foremost priority is ensuring the safety of their employees, contractors, and the surrounding community. They are also committed to minimizing any potential environmental impact. An investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the release.
Currently, the primary focus is to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible, as emphasized by Lawrence.
I hope everyone affected by the fire is safe and that they can quickly determine the cause and prevent further incidents.