Firefighters battle blaze at Louisiana refinery

CONVENT, La. — Officials at Motiva’s Convent Refinery, along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, say plant firefighters are battling a fire in one of its units.

General Manager Hugues Bourgogne said in a statement that the fire started about 10:50 a.m. Thursday. He did not say what started it.

Witnesses have told local media outlets there was an explosion.

Bourgogne said Motiva initiated its emergency response plan and has deployed plant firefighters to respond to the fire.

Brandon Keller, public information officers for St. James Parish, says no injuries have been reported.

Keller said local fire departments were on standby, if needed.

The refinery produces conventional petroleum products including regular, premium and low-sulfur gasoline.

Motiva is owned equally by subsidiaries of Saudi Aramco and Shell Oil Company.

Chief Ryan Louque of the neighboring St. James Fire Department tells The Associated Press the Motiva refinery is dealing with the fire itself, and no public fire departments are involved.

Officials with the St. James Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness told WAFB TV there have been no reports of injuries.