UPDATE - Multi-Agency Emergency Response to Chemical Release in Roseland

REGION 1 NEWS RELEASE

August 24, 2025

*UPDATE* Multi-Agency Emergency Response to Chemical Release in Roseland

Update 8/24: The fire at the Smitty’s Supply Inc. site remains 90% contained. Overnight, additional resources, including specialized heavy equipment, arrived. Response crews began removing structural debris and addressing covered hotspots. A containment berm is being established around the site, and recovery operations will continue throughout the day.

Environmental response efforts are ongoing in the Tangipahoa River and surrounding waterways. Local, state, and federal agencies, along with contracted responders, have deployed approximately 1,900 feet of containment boom in the river and 100 feet in a nearby drainage ditch. Eight airboats are supporting recovery. Two frack tanks, containing a combined 900 barrels of fluids, have been recovered. In the last 18 hours, additional drone surveys and two aerial assessments were conducted. As of this release, all air monitoring results have shown either non-detectable readings or levels well below health-based or actionable thresholds. Continuous air monitoring remains in place.

To date, no injuries have been reported. Nearly 150 personnel are engaged in field operations, representing all levels of government and contracted support.

To support wildlife protection, a hotline has been established at 832-514-9663 for reports of impacted wildlife. The public is urged not to handle wildlife directly. Please use only the hotline number listed here, as other numbers circulating may be inaccurate.

The mandatory evacuation remains in effect within a one-mile radius of the incident site. The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) also remains in place for three nautical miles around the site and up to 5,000 feet above surface level. Unauthorized aircraft, including drones, are prohibited. For current TFR details, visit https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html.

Officials remain committed to ensuring public safety, mitigating environmental impacts, and advancing recovery efforts.

The cooperating response agencies will provide all updates to the incident response. We will share significant, accurate updates as quickly as possible, and we urge all residents and visitors to follow us on social media for the latest information.

Update 8/23: The fire at the incident location is now 90% contained. Response crews have worked diligently throughout the day and will continue operations through the night to strengthen containment and support recovery efforts. Recovery operations are also underway in nearby waterways to address potential environmental impacts. Contractors are staged along multiple sites of the Tangipahoa River, conducting booming operations to trap and recover product. Additional crews are also working to identify nearby smaller waterways, such as creeks and watering holes, where significant amounts of product may also be present.

An initial wildlife hotline has been established to assist with impacted wildlife reports. The hotline number is 832-514-9663. Calls will be managed by an operator, and all information provided will be immediately transmitted to the Environmental Unit Leader for dissemination to State and U.S. Wildlife Agencies. Do not attempt to capture or handle any impacted wildlife. When reporting, please provide the following details: Observer’s name, GPS location of sighting, time observed, species identified, nature of impact (deceased, injured, covered in oil).

The responsible party, Smitty’s, is still developing a dedicated claims hotline. Additional information will be provided as soon as it becomes available. The hotline will provide information and support on how to submit claims and address community concerns.

The mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for a one-mile radius around the incident site. In addition, the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is still established over the incident location. The TFR extends three nautical miles around the Smitty’s site and up to 5,000 feet above surface level, prohibiting all unauthorized aircraft, including drones, from entering the restricted airspace. These measures are in place to ensure public safety and to allow emergency responders to operate without interference. For the most current information and updates, please visit the FAA’s official TFR website at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html.

Original News Release 8/22

Tangipahoa Parish – At approximately 12:50 p.m. today, a chemical release and fire occurred at Smitty’s Supply Inc. in Roseland (Tangipahoa Parish). The fire remains active, and emergency personnel are on scene. Local and state authorities have requested additional agencies and specialized teams to assist.

No injuries have been reported. In an effort to ensure public safety, a mandatory evacuation order was issued for a one-mile radius around the incident site. Air monitoring conducted off-site but within this evacuation zone has not indicated any health concerns at this time, and conditions will continue to be closely monitored throughout the event. Out of an abundance of caution, residents in the surrounding community are advised to remain indoors and limit exposure.

The facility has sustained severe damage. While the duration of fire suppression efforts is still being assessed, officials emphasized that cleanup and recovery will be managed by a unified incident command. This includes the Louisiana State Police (LSP), the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and private contractors, ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated response.

Multiple agencies are engaged in response operations, including DEQ, EPA, LSP, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO), the National Weather Service (NWS), the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), and the Tangipahoa Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. We also appreciate the assistance of response partners from neighboring parishes and from local agencies in Mississippi.

The Louisiana State Police reminds residents, visitors, and pilots to check Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) before operating manned or unmanned aircraft in the Roseland area. The TFR is defined as a 3-nautical-mile radius around the Smitty’s incident site and up to 5,000 feet above surface level. More information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html.

The Louisiana State Police Emergency Services Unit (ESU) serves as the state’s lead agency for hazardous materials and explosives incidents. ESU technicians respond 24/7 across Louisiana to mitigate and remediate threats, ensuring residents are not exposed to undue risks.

For hazardous materials emergencies, the Hazardous Materials Hotline is staffed by Right-to-Know personnel and serves as the central reporting line for chemical spills or hazardous material incidents. You can find the Hazardous Materials Hotline and other information here. Transporters, manufacturers, storage facilities, and others handling regulated hazardous materials are required to report incidents immediately.

For immediate medical concerns, please contact the Poison Center Hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222.

EPA has established an emergency response site on EPA’s activities, which can be found here.

We will continue to monitor conditions closely and provide updates as new information becomes available. This incident is still under investigation and the safety of the community remains our highest priority.

Contact Information:
Sergeant William Huggins
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section
Phone: (225) 925-6202
[email protected]