Story at a glance
- Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) urged residents in the area to shelter in place until further notice.
- Louisiana State Police said emergency crews are working to contain a chlorine leak.
- Hurricane Laura made landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane early Thursday morning packing 150 mph winds.
Emergency crews are on the scene of a fire and chlorine leak originating from a chemical manufacturing facility near Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Laura devastated the area early Thursday morning, according to Louisiana State Police.
Images on social media showed thick gray clouds pouring out of the industrial building adjacent to Interstate 10. The road has been shut down as hazmat crews are on the scene.
…and then this happened. Fire at a chemical plant in Westlake. Not sure what’s burning or what caused it.
We noticed white smoke from our hotel room around 8am and thought nothing of it because, you know, we’re surrounded by chemical plants… pic.twitter.com/hrLLxjXMWc
— Dalfred Jones KLFY (@DialDalfredKLFY) August 27, 2020
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Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) urged residents in the area to shelter in place until further notice.
“There is a chemical fire in the Westlake/Moss Bluff/Sulphur area,” the governor tweeted Thursday.
There is a chemical fire in the Westlake/Moss Bluff/Sulphur area. Residents are advised to shelter in place until further notice and close your doors and windows. Follow the directions of local officials.
— John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) August 27, 2020
“If you are in the Westlake/Moss Bluff/Sulphur area, shelter in place, close your windows and doors and TURN OFF YOUR AIR CONDITIONING UNITS. There is a chemical fire. Stay inside and wait for additional direction from local officials,” he said.
The fire was burning in Westlake, which is on the west side of Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish.
Hurricane Laura made landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane early Thursday morning packing 150 mph winds. Laura weakened to a Category 2 hurricane after making landfall but still packs sustained winds of more than 100 mph and will continue to produce heavy rain and flash flooding that are not expected to recede for several days.
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