An explosion at an operating unit at the Chalmette Refinery was reported just before 1 p.m. Friday. Fire crews are still inside the refinery, dousing the tanks with water to cool them down. Officials say no injuries were reported.
Fire teams responded to the scene in minutes and got the fire under control in about 10 minutes. The refinery has not said how the explosion happened or what was burning during the fire. Parish President Louis Pomes said air-monitoring systems are in place to ensure the area is safe for neighbors.
Neighbors in the area said they were scared by the explosion’s boom and felt their homes or businesses shake. Employees at the Parish Diner, several blocks away from the refinery, said the explosion shook the building and pushed the doors in. The explosion occurred during the lunch rush, when many tables were full.
“We were sitting there, had our food ordered and stuff and all of a sudden, the whole building shook. The doors sucked open about three or four inches. We were like what was that. We assumed it was an 18-wheeler crash or something,” said Chris Holmes, a St. Bernard Parish resident.
Kelly, a server at Parish Diner, said she turned around to look and saw a huge mushroom cloud and a huge fire. “It was rather scary. Everybody just kind of ran out to the street to see what we could see,” Kelly said.
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