Explosion and Fire at Smitty’s Louisiana Facility
An explosion occurred at the Smitty’s Supply site in Roseland, Louisiana, on Friday afternoon. The resulting fire was 90% contained by Saturday evening. No injuries have been reported. A mandatory evacuation is in place within a 1-mile radius of the plant, affecting about 800 residents, according to the Tangipahoa Parish sheriff. The cause of the explosion is still unknown.
Smitty’s is not an ILMA member, but its CAM2 brand is.
“We are relieved that no one was injured in this incident,” said ILMA CEO Holly Alfano. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the fire, especially those in the surrounding Tangipahoa Parish community.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began leading the multi-agency emergency response on Saturday. Air and water quality are being monitored.
According to the Smitty’s website, the Roseland facility is ISO 9001:2015 certified and employs 450 people. It houses 11 million gallons of bulk storage, 14.4 acres of warehouse space, a grease manufacturing plant and a laboratory. Local news reports list motor oil, hydraulic fluid and antifreeze among the products manufactured at the site.
ILMA will report on any potential lessons for member companies that stem from this incident. “ILMA members are always focused on safety and continuous improvement at their facilities,” noted Alfano. “We want to take concrete steps to help members ensure nothing like this happens again in our industry.”