WGNO

Refinery says large ‘explosion’ was actually just routine testing

NEW ORLEANS — An explosion is not to blame for flames seen shooting into the sky over Chalmette Saturday night.

According to a spokesperson for the PFB Chalmette Refinery, what many people saw was a routine safety measure calling “flaring,” that’s designed to safely combust hydrocarbons.

After the flaring started around 11:15 pm Saturday, several people posted their concerns on social media.

We’re told refinery workers notified the appropriate officials and agencies and that everything went as planned.