Update: July 2, 2024,11:20 am – Louisiana State Police has reported that the Shelter-In-Place has been lifted and I-10 is now open.
10:45 am update: The shelter-in-place has been extended to a .5-mile radius around the Biolab plant in Westlake. I-10 traffic is also being diverted to I-210.
Original:
Westlake, Louisiana – A warehouse fire is currently being investigated at the BioLab facility in Westlake, Louisiana, according to the Calcasieu Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP). The incident has prompted authorities to issue a precautionary shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area.
OHSEP Director Jared Maze stated that officials are still working to determine if the fire has caused any offsite impact. As a precautionary measure, a shelter-in-place order has been issued for areas within a .25-mile radius south of the facility.
The shelter-in-place order is a safety measure that advises residents to stay indoors and avoid any outdoor activities until the all-clear is given. This is typically done to prevent potential exposure to hazardous materials that may have been released during the incident.
The BioLab facility is a chemical manufacturing plant that produces various products, including sanitizers and cleaning solutions. The facility is located in Westlake, Louisiana, and employs several hundred people.