NEW ORLEANS –The Coast Guard, state and local agencies continue to respond to an oil production platform fire near Bayou Sorrel, Tuesday.
The max potential of crude oil between the two storage tanks on the platform has been downgraded to more than 33,000 gallons. Two storage tanks are currently on fire.
Local salvage, fire fighting and oil spill response contractors were hired to respond to the incident.
Response crews have deployed approximately 300 yards of containment boom across the canal entrance nearest the platform.
Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Iberville Sheriff’s Office and Iberville Fire Department are all on scene.
Personnel at MSU Baton Rouge were notified at 9:15 a.m., that an oil production platform in Bayou Sorrel caught fire while in the process of being dismantled.
There were two people aboard the platform at the time of the explosion. There were no reported injuries.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.