2 people injured in fire at Geismar chemical plant

GEISMAR, La. (WAFB) – Two people were injured, one seriously, after a fire broke out at a chemical plant in Geismar. The incident occurred at the Chevron Renewable Energy Group facility on Highway 30.

RELATED: Two workers recovering from burns following Chevron plant fire, officials say

“This morning, approximately 8:00-8:45, there was a fire at the facility. Local authorities were notified quickly. The responders in the area are amazing, they are great partners who came quickly. We were able to contain the fire,” said Camille Ivy-O’Donnell, State Representative, Senior Representative for Chevron.

O’Donnell says the fire occurred at the Geismar “train-a” plant, which produces renewable diesel fuel. Officials say they are now investigating how the fire started and what the future holds for employee safety.

“We are implementing our emergency response process to keep our people safe while also keeping the environment safe, which is key to us,” O’Donnell added.

According to hospital officials, two workers were taken by Acadian Air-Med to the Baton Rouge General Burn Unit on Bluebonnet. One worker is in serious condition with what are believed to be 15 percent burns, and the other has what they say are 2 percent burns and should be released today.

“A patient with up to 15% burns is very important to us, so as soon as we admit them, we try to get them care as quickly as possible, make them comfortable and get them into an appropriate bed,” said Alyson Hughes, BRG Crisis Management Coordinator.

He tells us that they prepare all year round for accidents that may occur at chemical plants.

“We have a specialized hazmat response team that goes through an eight-hour FEMA course, it’s called hospital emergency response team training, so we practice for incidents that might involve hazmat or chemical contamination,” Hughes added, “although we didn’t have to do any decontamination. We were ready to accommodate that team if we had to.”

O’Donnell tells us safety is their top priority.

“We have emergency response plans in place and we are working to implement them, and then we will take additional actions as we resolve them,” O’Donnell explained.

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