A catastrophic explosion and subsequent fire occurred at Smitty's Supply, a lubricant manufacturing facility in Roseland, Louisiana, sending smoke and oily fallout across the region. The 15-acre complex held roughly half a million gallons of flammable materials, and burning liquids escaped into surrounding water, soil, and air. Oily droplets coated areas as far as 20 miles away, and officials note that refinery and lubricant fires can release cancer-causing air toxics such as benzene, with sampling underway. No deaths had been reported as of Thursday, and residents expressed fear and frustration over health risks and accountability amid regulatory rollbacks.
Fifteen minutes after the 26-year-old drove home, a roar thundered from the plant where he helped mix chemicals for motor oil and had just punched out. Fire consumed the air, the collapsing metal groaning and liquids hissing as they escaped into the surrounding water, soil, and air. From his yard, he saw neighbors pointing at the rising smoke, not knowing he had been inside the plant only minutes before.
The blaze swept through the 15-acre complex that housed half a million gallons of flammable materials. Oily droplets spattered from the smoky sky as far as 20 miles away, coating rooftops, cars, and front lawns in a slick, shimmering film that glistened like tar. Cancer-causing air toxics such as benzene can be released in refinery and lubricant fires; officials say sampling is underway.
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