| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6747 | 2011-06-16 | Statewide | ***UPDATE*** State Police Investigate Haz-Mat Explosion |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent Statewide Press Release June 16, 2011 ***UPDATE*** Road Closures Reduced Iberia Parish- Louisiana State Police and the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office have opened all roadways in the one-mile evacuation area with the exception of Admiral Doyle in front of Multi-Chem. In the interest of public safety, Admiral Doyle between Fox Road and Vortex Road will remain closed. This area is expected to remain closed for several weeks while crews work to clean up the material on site. It is recommended that people who usually utilize Admiral Doyle in the affected area use an alternate route, and plan for delays. We understand that this will cause an inconvenience for people in the area, and ask that people remain patient as we work to make this area safe. “We would like to thank the public for their cooperation and patience during this incident,” said Deputy Command Technician John Porter, State Police Emergency Services Unit. “We understand that an incident such as this disrupts people’s lives. The decision to recommend evacuations and close roads is only initiated after careful consideration. Public safety is always our number one priority.” “I would like to thank the businesses and residents who have cooperated with us during this event,” said Louis Ackal Iberia Parish Sheriff. “We will continue to be in the area to assist anyone who has not returned home or to their business yet. We are going to continue working with State Police until the clean up and investigation is complete.” State Police Haz-Mat personnel will remain at the site while the clean up process takes place. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. ***UPDATE*** Phased Reentry Plan Crews working at the haz-mat fire have extinguished the fire and have determined it is safe for people to return to the area. Currently, Louisiana State Police, in conjunction with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, will be allowing residents to return to their homes, and businesses in a controlled manner to ensure public safety. Anyone wishing to return to their home is asked to take Admiral Doyle (from the south side) to LA 3212 a deputy will direct them to the Sugarena for further instructions. State police ask that you bring photo identification with you, if you are returning home. Residence will be escorted to their home, or business, where the air quality will be monitored. Once the home, or business, is deemed safe they will be allowed to enter. This phased re-entry plan will take place from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. This process will take some time and we are asking people to be patient as crews escort people back into the area. Safety is our number one priority and we want to make sure there is no home, or business, left unchecked. The cause for the explosion remains under investigation. June 15, 2011 ***UPDATE*** Fire Under Control Iberia Parish- Williams Firefighting and Hazard Control has the fire under control. Crews will continue to spray firefighting chemicals on the fire until it is extinguished. To ensure public safety the evacuation order will remain in place. As soon as it is safe to do so, authorities will lift the evacuation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. ***UPDATE*** Crews Working to Approach Site Iberia Parish- Personnel from Williams Firefighting and Hazard Control arrived this morning in New Iberia. Utilizing State Police Air Support, workers flew over the site to determine the best way to safely approach the fire to extinguish it. Currently they are working to put the plan into action and should implement the plan this afternoon. The evacuation area remains the same, and it will remain in place until it is safe for the public to return. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. State Police Investigate Haz-Mat Explosion Iberia Parish- Today, at 3:50 p.m., Louisiana State Police Haz-Mat, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Iberia Parish Fire Department, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and Lafayette Fire Department Haz-Mat personnel responded to an explosion at 3400 Admiral Doyle Drive in New Iberia, LA, the business of Multi-Chem. The explosion resulted in a large fire that fully engulfed the business. The fire at the business is still burning, but has greatly reduced in size from the initial explosion. For safety reasons, crews are allowing the fire to burn until it is safe for firefighters to approach the area. State Police Air Support was able to fly over the area giving Haz-Mat personnel the opportunity to assess the situation. Currently emergency service crews have a one-mile radius area evacuated. The evacuated area includes two other local businesses, the University of Louisiana New Iberia Research Center (NIRC), and the New Iberia Airport. The airport is currently closed and the NIRC remains evacuated. The area is expected to remain evacuated through the night. Roadways within the evacuation area will remain closed until it safe for the public to return. There were no injuries reported from this explosion, and all employees of Multi-Chem and surrounding businesses have been accounted for. The cause for the explosion is still under investigation. For More Information Contact: Tpr. Stephen Hammons Louisiana State Police Troop I- Public Affairs 337-262-1917 Stephen.hammons@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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