Residents evacuated due to chemical leak

On September 12, at approximately 7:15 p.m., the Ville Platte Police Department responded to a call regarding a possible chemical spill in the 100 block of Main Street. 0
Upon arrival, officers and Ville Platte Fire Department personnel detected the smell of ammonia in the area and began evacuating nearby residents as a safety precaution. Louisiana State Police and Louisiana State Police Hazmat division were notified of the situation and were on hand to assist, along with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Approximately 12 people were advised of a mandatory evacuation on East Washington Street and Railroad Avenue. Others in the area of East LaSalle Street evacuated voluntarily. Hazmat repaired the line that burst and cleaned the scene and some residents were allowed to return to their homes that were not on East Washington at approximately 11:30 p.m. Residents on East Washington were not allowed to return to their residences at that time due to the strong odor from the leak. After Hazmat cleaned and cleared the area, all residents, except one, the home nearest to the business, were allowed to return home.
Ville Platte Police Chief Neal Lartigue was on the scene during the incident and stated that he appreciated the assistance and fast response of everyone involved and that safety of residents was the first priority.
“People were evacuated for their safety and those not allowed to return to their residences that evening were kept away to protect them from inhaling fumes, because a strong odor remained in the area.”
The cause of the leak is still under investigation.
Lartigue asks residents to be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity by calling the Ville Platte Police Department at 363-1313. Your call will remain anonymous.