By Islam El-Sakka
An explosion at a chemical plant in Greenville, Mississippi, sent a large plume of black smoke into the sky Wednesday morning, prompting a temporary shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.
Plant Details and Response
Emergency crews were alerted around 7 a.m. CST to the incident at the Loveland Products facility, which manufactures fertilizer, plant nutrition, and crop protection products. The plant is owned by Nutrien, headquartered in Loveland, Colorado.
No Injuries Reported
Deputy emergency management director Sara Moreland Hester said no injuries were immediately reported. She stated at midday that the fire had been put out and firefighters were wrapping up at the scene. Preliminary information from plant management indicated the explosion involved a fire associated with a herbicide chemical.
Shelter Order Lifted, Air Monitoring Underway
Residents near the facility on the city's eastern edge were asked to shelter in place for a couple of hours because of potentially hazardous smoke. The order was canceled just before noon. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said its emergency response team and an air monitoring contractor were working to assess any air quality impacts.
