Shelter-in-place and evacuation lifted around Calcasieu Refining

Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) - The shelter-in-place and evacuation orders have been lifted for the Graywood subdivision and Big Lake Road area.

Lake Charles Police confirmed the mandatory evacuation and shelter-in-place order was lifted around 5:37 a.m. Sunday morning.

The orders, which were due to a tank fire at the Calcasieu Refining Company, were for a 3-mile radius around Calcasieu Refining, according to Calcasieu OEP.

A mandatory evacuation had been issued for a 1.5-mile radius of the refinery, including all of the Graywood subdivision, Calcasieu OEP said.

The cause of the fire is a lightning strike, Calcasieu OEP said.

Louisiana State Police told KPLC the tank contained naphtha, a flammable hydrocarbon product.

When the fire started, the tank contained around 46,000 barrels, according to Greg Langley, spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. There are 42 gallons in a barrel.

Louisiana DEQ initially told KPLC the product was naphthalene. State Police then confirmed the product was naphtha.

Around 7:30 p.m., the fire continued with around 12 feet of the product remaining in the 150-foot-in-diameter tank, Langley said.

LDEQ - along with help from Phillips 66, who agreed to help - has been monitoring air quality, so far finding “non-detect” readings, Langley said.

No injuries were reported, both Senegal and Langley said.

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