Published Friday Night, July 14, 2023, 2115 PT
IBERVILLE PARISH, LOUISIANA — Reports of multiple explosions are being reported on Social Media and via media news outlets at the Dow Chemical Plan in Plaquemine (Iberbille Parish), Louisiana. The Sheriff’s Office is on the scene and working to investigate the incident. The explosions could be seen from the Sugar Hill Plantation, which is about three miles from the actual plant facility.
It occurred at 1927 hours PT on Friday night, July 14, 2023.
There is a current SHELTER-IN-PLACE in effect a one-half-mile radius around the large chemical plant issued by the Iberville Parish Council Office of Emergency Preparedness.
All personnel at the facility have been accounted for.
Dow has advised they are monitoring air quality and not picking up any readings in the air currently at the moment. No protective measures are deemed necessary at this time.
At this time as released by the West Baton Rouge Parish, the explosions have been contained within the gates of the Dow Chemical Plant as of 2052 hours PT.
CLOSED: LA-1 is closed at Sid Richard Road.
We have reached out to the West Baton Rouge Parish to find out where the explosion(s) occurred at the facility and what type of chemicals were released during the initial incident. – Ed
Scanner Feed –> https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/40734
PLANT INCIDENT HISTORY
The Dow Plaquemine Complex is an active petrochemical plant located in the 21200 block of Hwy 1 in Louisiana, USA.
It sits on about 17 acres and is located about 10 miles southwest of Baton Rouge, Louisiana on the Mississippi River. It also has a tenant by the name of Olin Corp, which has also had additional incidents of the same nature.
(Photo Above) Credit: Dow
It became operational in 1958 and is one of four sites in the State. They produce more than 100 basic and specialty chemicals that are shipped worldwide and serve as building buildings for everyday products from plastics to soaps, to detergents, food additives, cosmetics, shampoos, and pharmaceuticals.
April 11, 2022 — A compressor caught fire and leaked liquid chlorine, sparking the release of the combustible and caustic chemical inside the Dow Hydrocarbons complex located in one of its tenant’s locations, the Olin Chlor Alkali plant. 23 people were hospitalized.
November 3, 2019 — An explosion occurred at the plant leaving no injuries and not posing a threat to the public or area communities.
December 3, 2016 — A Chlorine leak caused a massive fire at the plant, causing a shelter-in-place.
(c) 2023 NW Fire Blog
NW Fire Blog 