The PBF Energy refinery in Chalmette exploded around 1 p.m. with no injuries
A large explosion and fire erupted this afternoon at the PBF Energy refinery in Chalmette, Louisiana, sending a massive plume of smoke into the sky and prompting an immediate emergency response across St. Bernard Parish. Officials confirmed that all refinery employees have been accounted for and no injuries were reported.
What happened and when
The first call reached emergency dispatchers around 12:53 p.m. local time. Fire crews and law enforcement officers arrived at the refinery complex approximately 15 minutes later and moved quickly to contain the fire. St. Bernard Parish Homeland Security Deputy Director John Rahaim Jr. was among the officials who responded to the scene.
The cause of the explosion is not yet known and remains under investigation. First responders were able to contain the fire, and officials described the overall situation as stable as monitoring operations continued at the site.
This is everything we know about the Chalmette refinery explosion.
See road closures here >> pic.twitter.com/rOXgIlaNJ9— wdsu (@wdsu) May 8, 2026
What residents across the parish experienced
The force of the blast was felt well beyond the immediate area of the refinery. Residents throughout St. Bernard Parish, including communities as far as Arabi, reported hearing a deep, thunder-like sound at the moment of the explosion. Many described windows shaking in their homes shortly before thick black smoke became visible rising high above the industrial complex.
Video recorded by residents across the parish captured the size of the smoke plume and showed flames visible at the site in the early minutes after the blast. Sirens could be heard throughout the surrounding neighborhoods as emergency vehicles moved toward the scene.
Road closures and school precautions
Authorities temporarily closed the eastbound lanes of West St. Bernard Highway between Jackson Boulevard and Palmisano Boulevard while crews worked in the area. Those lanes were later reopened, with officers remaining on scene to manage traffic flow. Drivers in the area were advised to find alternate routes during the closure.
Some nearby schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution while officials monitored conditions and assessed air quality in the surrounding communities. Parish spokesperson Kim Gritter confirmed that once lanes near the refinery had been cleared to reopen, law enforcement shifted from a full road closure to an ongoing traffic management presence.
What officials are saying
Authorities were consistent in their reassurances throughout the afternoon: all personnel at the refinery had been accounted for and no injuries were reported. The fire was successfully contained, and the situation was described by officials as stable. Emergency teams remained at the refinery today as investigators began the process of determining what triggered the explosion.
Residents near the facility were urged to avoid the immediate area and to follow guidance from local emergency management as response operations continued. Air quality monitoring was described as ongoing, a standard precautionary measure following industrial fires of this scale.