| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 1264 | 2012-05-23 | Troop A | UPDATE US 190 Opened; Evacuation Lifted |
Troop A - NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release May 23, 2012 UPDATE US 190 Opened; Evacuation Lifted BATON ROUGE- This morning, Louisiana State Police reopened US 190 in both east and westbound directions. The evacuation area has reopened as well. The cleanup process continues; however, there is no longer a cause for concern to the public in the area. As people begin returning to their homes, they are asked to inspect their property for debris from the fire. Anyone who locates any debris is asked not move it and call Air Liquide at 1-800-292-1155. A disposal crew will be sent to the area to dispose of it. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. May 22, 2012 UPDATE Crews Working at Site to Complete Cleanup BATON ROUGE- Today, Louisiana State Police Emergency Service (Haz-Mat) crews made several entries to the Air Liquide facility. With the assistance of several local fire departments and other emergency responders, crews were able to remove several hundred un-effected and partially damaged cylinders. Currently, there is a minimal hot zone that remains at the site. Fire crews are applying water to the hot area in order to cool the cylinders. Once cooled, crews will be able to approach the burned and damaged cylinders to assess the safest way to remove them. This process is expected to continue throughout the night. As a safety precaution, US 190 will remain closed between Erwinville and Port Allen. Troopers and deputies with the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office will continue to staff roadblocks and redirecting traffic. The one-mile evacuation area remains in place. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. May 21, 2012 Chemical Fire Leads to Evacuation and Road Closure BATON ROUGE- Today, Louisiana State Police Emergency Service (Haz-Mat) technicians, as well as several local fire departments, responded to a chemical fire on US 190 near Bueche Road in West Baton Rouge Parish. On May 21, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., Emergency Services technicians responded to a chemical fire at the Air Liquide facility on US 190 near the community of Erwinville. It was discovered that the fire involved Acetylene cylinders. Acetylene is a fuel used for welding and blow torches. One worker was injured in the fire and transported to a local hospital with minor burns. As a safety precaution, US 190 was closed in both east and westbound directions between Erwinville and Port Allen. Troopers, and West Baton Rouge Parish deputies are staffing roadblocks and redirecting traffic. The public should use I-10, River Road and Rosedale Road as alternate routes. A one-mile radius from the site was evacuated, which included approximately 40 homes. West Baton Rouge Parish officials established shelters at the Port Allen and Erwinville Community Centers. Due to the volatile nature of the compromised cylinders, crews were unable to approach the site to begin extinguishing the fire without a thorough assessment. Louisiana State Police Air Support was utilized for aerial surveillance so that technicians could inspect the facility from the air. Initial assessments indicated that there were several hundred Acetylene tanks on the facility grounds which were on fire. Numerous other cylinders unaffected by fire were stored on the site. Late this afternoon after aerial and perimeter surveillance was completed, LSP Technicians, fireman and company officials entered the hot zone to do a detailed onsite assessment. They were able to inspect several cylinders which remained unaffected by the fire, and they observed several hundred which were still on fire. Currently, Louisiana State Police, West Baton Rouge Sheriffs Department, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Erwinville and Port Allen Fire Departments and several emergency response teams are continuing to monitor the situation. They will remain at the site through the night. It is anticipated that the evacuation area as well as the road closures will remain in place through the night as well. Further assessments will be made by crews during the night and will continue through tomorrow morning. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. For information about road closures motorists can call 511.
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