Crews bring fire to smolder at BioLab, precautionary shelter in place remains in effect

WESTLAKE, La. (KPLC) - Crews now have the fire smoldering at a chemical plant in Westlake in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.

StateTrooper Derek Senegal said crews are spraying water on the chlorine link at BioLab to dilute the chemical and keep it from a reaction.

Senegal says a precautionary shelter in place continues within one mile of the plant.

I-10 is shut down as a precautionary measure. All traffic is being diverted to 210.

The leak at BioLab, which is just south of I-10, is causing smoke to roll north across the interstate.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality was informed of a fire and possible release of chlorine gas at Bio-Lab in Westlake at 9 a.m. Thursday morning.

LDEQ responders on are on-site and have begun air monitoring. LDEQ responders will continue to monitor at strategic locations.

The Lake Charles Fire Department is at the scene. EPA personnel are assisting with the response and EPA is sending a monitoring aircraft to do a flyover

Bio-Lab manufactures chlorine for swimming pools.

Copyright 2020 KPLC. All rights reserved.