re: Big fire/explosion in Tangipahoa Parish

Smitty’s Supply is one heck of an operation. Over the last 25 years, the company has grown exponentially. When we did business there, the son had just taken over from his dad and had plan to increase the size and scope of what they do.
I hope they can get things back up and running soon. That business means a lot to that community.

Last time I saw smoke like that, a train derailed near our house when I was 7. The explosions scared the crap out of me trying to run from it

In that case…After reading this story, I’m afraid to breathe outside in oil air…What’s the 800 number? Hurry

I heard it is bad. It is like it is raining oil.

Calvin Fayard is sprinting there as we speak.

That's some brave firefighters

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Facebook friend posted a video of her holding her arm out and black droplets were falling on it from the sky. Yes, black rain.

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Yep, I was told as much as a half mile out.

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Who was first to the area and start signing up the locals for the forthcoming lawsuit due the .....
* smoke inhalation
* PTSD caused by the explosion
* toxic fumes
* etc.
* etc.

Gordon or Morris?

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An erection lasting more than four hours is a medical emergency known as priapism and requires immediate medical attention.

I worked there from 2021-2023. When I went for my interview and they gave me a tour the only thing that kept going through my mind was "how has OSHA not shut this place down yet?" but I needed a job and they paid pretty well so I agreed to their offer.

That facility makes every kind of oil and lube you can think of as well as transmission, brake and power steering fluids, hydraulic oils, anti freeze, DEF, brake cleaner and carb cleaner, windshield wiper fluid and even fuel based products like pre-mixed 2-cycle fuels and starting fluid.

The 1.5-ish years I worked there, there were several discharges into the local ditches that got into the Tangipahoa River at least once.

All day today, I just kept telling people "I'm not surprised this happened. I'm surprised it took this long to happen."

I spoke to someone I still know who works there and everyone was able to get out of the facility before it spread too badly. So I'm thankful for that and praying for everyone who lost their livelihoods.

They also had their own on-site injection and blow-molding facility to make all their own bottles. So on top of the lubricants and chemicals they also had the plastic. Not to mention all the finished product on wooden pallets that was in the warehouses waiting to be shipped. The videos I've seen posted online around 4pm of explosions were the fuel plant tanks blowing up.

The place is going to be a total loss and won't be over until it's burned everything completely to the ground.

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Based on public records, they have 2-3 reportable spills that make it off site per year for a variety of chemicals.

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Fox8 news reported earlier that they have had significant EPA violations every quarter for the past 12 STRAIGHT QUARTERS.

While EPA violations don't cause what happens today, it shows the lackadaisical attitude of management and ownership there.