Large Fire at Chemical Plant Results in Evacuations

A fire broke out at a chemical plant in west Louisville, KY on Saturday morning, Pleasure Ridge Park Fire District Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Bowman said.

Workers at Zeon Chemicals LP notified leadership about a fire in a "single process area" at 7:45 a.m., according to Zeon's Director of Safety Health and the Environment, Lori Carson. She said that the process was a spray dryer.

On-site safety and suppression systems were activated and they also called 911. The company said around 20 people were inside the plant when it happened, two were in the processing area.

Crews from the PRP Fire District and several other agencies responded to the fire, Bowman said.

The plant was evacuated, though no injuries were reported. According to Zeon Chemical, there is no threat to air quality, as no chemicals were being processed in the area in which the fire broke out.

Firefighters had the blaze under control by 8:21 a.m. Investigators determined hazardous chemicals were not released after conducting air monitoring tests, Bowman said.

There is no word yet on how it started or the extent of the damage at the factory.

This is the second fire/explosion in a week in Louisville. On November 12, an explosion at Givaudan Sense Colour facility killed 2 and injured 12 other workers. The call came in that it was a "hazardous materials incident."

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