Crews Respond to Explosion at Mississippi Chemical Plant

Firefighters responded to a large explosion at a Greenville, Mississippi, chemical plant, where locals were told to stay indoors for hours. 

According to local outlet Action 5 News, emergency crews were notified of the explosion and ensuing fire the morning of November 4, at a Loveland Products plant that manufactures fertilizer and herbicide. The explosion sent a large plume of black smoke into the air, with the county issuing a shelter-in-place order for those in the immediate area, before lifting the order roughly two hours later.

Nutrien — the parent company of Loveland — told the Associated Press that the fire was “being managed,” and that plant leadership was working with first responders. Firefighters from at least four local departments responded to the explosion, along with regional HAZMAT response teams, Environmental Protection Agency investigators, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.

Speaking to Action 5, Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons said that the city’s first priority is the safety of its residents, first responders, and those working at or near the plant. 

“We are coordinating with emergency response agencies to assess the situation, contain the fire, and determine whether additional protective measures are necessary,” Simmons said. “I ask our citizens to remain calm, avoid the immediate area, and allow our firefighters and emergency personnel the space they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear.