LSP Emergency Services Unit Investigating Offshore Pipeline Explosion that Killed One

Plaquemines Parish – On Saturday, August 17, 2024, shortly after 8:00 p.m., the Louisiana State Police Emergency Services Unit was informed of an offshore explosion, fire, and report of a missing person in a marsh area near Venice in Plaquemines Parish. The explosion resulted in the death of 40-year-old Joshua Nichols of Lake Charles.

On Sunday, August 18, 2024, Troopers from the Emergency Services Unit responded to the area and began investigating the events pertaining to the incident. The preliminary investigation revealed that Nichols was operating a mud boat near a natural gas pipeline. For reasons still under investigation, an explosion and fire occurred while Nichols was believed to be working on the pipeline. Nichols died as a result, and with the assistance of the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office, his body was recovered in the area of the incident. No other individuals were injured.

The pipelines have been blocked, and one remains on fire, burning the remaining natural gas in the line. Air monitor readings were conducted, and there is no threat to the public. This incident remains under investigation.

The Louisiana State Police (LSP), Emergency Services Unit (ESU), is the primary agency in the state of Louisiana with both the regulatory and statutory authority for hazardous material and explosives. Each unit conducts enforcement activities which are supported by either administrative or criminal provisions within each set of regulations. Technicians assigned to ESU respond to, mitigate, and often remediate hazardous material and explosive incidents throughout the state of Louisiana on a 24-hour basis, 365 days a year. The job of an ESU Technician is to ensure the citizens of Louisiana are not exposed to any undue risk of hazardous materials or explosives through proactive enforcement and by strictly enforcing and investigating infractions in the hazardous material and explosives laws.

The Hazardous Materials Hotline, 1-877-925-6595, is staffed by Right-to-Know personnel and is the central repository for chemical spills or hazardous material emergency notifications. Transporters, manufacturers, storage facilities, and/or persons handling regulated hazardous materials must contact the LSP Hotline immediately to report an incident.

Contact Information:
Sgt. Kate Stegall
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section
Office: (225) 925-6202
[email protected]