An explosion ripped through the Loveland Products facility in Greenville, Mississippi early Wednesday morning, sending thick smoke over the Delta city and triggering a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents before crews got the flames under control. City officials said the blast happened around 7:10 a.m. at the plant, formerly known as Platte Chemical, and was tied to herbicide chemical stored in what's described as a hot box.
Washington County emergency officials said crews were called to the facility just after 7 a.m., and multiple agencies responded to the scene, according to WBTV. As reported by WJTV, the city confirmed the chemical explosion occurred at that approximate time and attributed the initial blast to herbicide stored inside the hot box, though the precise cause remains under investigation.
Shelter-In-Place Ordered, Then Lifted
As smoke spread from the facility, officials issued a shelter-in-place order just before 9:30 a.m. covering an area bounded by Highway 182 and VFW between Beauchamp and Kuehn Road, per WDAM. That order was later canceled, the station reported, as firefighters and emergency personnel worked to contain the flames.
Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons asked residents to remain calm, avoid the immediate area, and give responders room to work safely, per WBTV. The mayor also praised the coordination between local and state responders during the incident.
Fire Controlled, Crews Decontaminated
By midmorning, the fire was controlled but not fully extinguished, Washington County Deputy Emergency Management Director Sara Moreland Hester told WJTV. The county's Emergency Operations Center said firefighters and emergency personnel on scene were undergoing decontamination protocols as a precautionary safety measure due to potential chemical exposure, the same account noted, and officials confirmed no injuries had been reported.
Fire departments from Greenville, Riverside and Leland responded alongside the Greenville Mid Delta Airport Fire Department, Pafford, and the Washington County Emergency Operations Center, according to WJTV's report. Regional hazmat teams from surrounding counties also responded, along with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, WDAM reported.
Company Response and Open Questions
Nutrien, Loveland's parent company, confirmed that no one was injured and said the fire was being managed, per WJTV. An AP News headline described a black plume rising into the air above the plant following the explosion.
Investigators have not yet determined the exact cause of the explosion, and officials in both local and state agencies say that work remains ongoing. The extent of any property damage at the Loveland facility has not been detailed in official statements so far.
