The blast hit just after 7 a.m. at the Loveland Products facility, formerly known as Platte Chemical, located in Greenville. City officials said the initial blast involved a chemical herbicide stored inside a “hot box.”
Loveland Products is an agricultural chemical facility, which manufactures fertilizers and crop protection products. Preliminary reports indicate the blast and subsequent blaze involved herbicide chemicals stored on-site.
The fire was brought under control, said Washington County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Firefighters and emergency personnel were on the scene undergoing decontamination protocols as a precautionary safety measure due to potential chemical exposure. There were no injuries in the incident, officials said.
Multiple agencies responded to battle the blaze, including the Greenville, Riverside, Leland, and Greenville Airport fire departments. Regional HazMat teams from surrounding counties, along with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), assisted with containment, air monitoring, and safety operations.
Shelter-in-Placer Order
As thick smoke spread from the facility Wednesday morning, emergency officials issued a shelter-in-place order just before 9:30 a.m. for residents bordered by Highway 182 from Beauchamp to Kuehn Road and VFW from Beauchamp to Kuehn Road. That order did lift after a while, but officials continued to ask the public to steer clear of the immediate facility area while crews wrap up operations.
A fire rages while thick black smoke billiows from the Loveland Products facility after an explosion Wednesday morning.Source: Facebook
Anyone who was in the area and suspects they may have been exposed to hazardous fumes should seek medical evaluation. Symptoms of chemical herbicide exposure can include:
- Burning or watering eyes
- Persistent coughing or throat irritation
- Dizziness or severe headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Chest tightness or shortness of breath
“Our first priority is the safety of our residents, our first responders, and everyone working at or near the facility,” said Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons. “We are coordinating with emergency response agencies to assess the situation, contain the fire, and determine whether additional protective measures are necessary.
”We will continue monitoring this situation closely and providing updates as verified information becomes available,” Simmons said. “The safety of our people will always come first.”
An investigation into the exact cause of the explosion remain ongoing.