Fire Strikes Westlake Vinyls Chemical Plant in Louisiana

GEISMAR, La. (AP) – Firefighters and state police hazardous materials units have been called to a chemical plant fire along the Mississippi River south of Baton Rouge.

The fire broke out shortly after 8 a.m. CDT Thursday at the Westlake Vinyls chemical plant on Louisiana Highway 73 in the Ascension Parish community of Geismar.

State police said an explosion may have set off the blaze. There were no reports of injuries, said Ami Johnson, spokeswoman for the Ascension Parish emergency office.

Trooper Russell Graham said officials had received reports of the release of the chemical vinyl chloride, but it was unclear how much may have been released. The plant produces poly vinyl chloride resin, Graham said.

The chemical is flammable and highly toxic.

Johnson said officials told the few residents living in the immediate area to close doors and windows and turn off air conditioning units as a precaution. She said other nearby chemical plants also were told to take similar precautions.

St. Amant Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief James LeBlanc told The Advocate newspaper that the fire is “large” and involves several chemicals.

The plant is owned by Houston-based Westlake Chemical Corp. and is part of a corridor of chemical plants and oil refineries that lines the river from south of New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

A spokesman for the company could not immediately provide details of what caused the fire.