Fire reported at chemical plant in Duson near Lafayette

DUSON, LA (WAFB) - Crews responded to the scene of a fire at a chemical plant in Duson in Acadia Parish Thursday afternoon, KATC-TV in Lafayette reported.

It's believed the fire is a facility called Flow-Chem Technologies, which according to its website is a "specialty oilfield chemical provider that operates across the Gulf of Mexico and US onshore market with blending facilities located at Rayne, Louisiana and Pleasanton, Texas in US and multiple warehouses."

The Department of Environmental Quality will have crews in the area Friday to check the air quality of nearby homes and businesses.

Witnesses reported hearing several explosions. Louisiana State Police has ordered an evacuation for a 5-mile radius around the plant, from Cuttlass Loop. The evacuation radius was later reduced to a mile. Residents who were told to leave are asked to remain where they are until they are notified it's safe to return home.

I-10 was closed for some time due to the facility's proximity to the interstate. I-10 was reopened in both directions overnight.

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