Broken Pipeline in St. Mary Parish, photo courtesy of St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office
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UPDATE: All roads are now open and residents can return to their homes.

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UPDATE: Detective Lieutenant Traci Landry with the St. Mary Sheriff's Department tells KPEL News the chemical is being identified by pipeline company reps as liquified petroleum gas.

"In this case, it is a mixture of chemicals including propane," says Lt. Hebert. "The mixture is flammable."

A shelter for residents who have been evacuated has been established at the Franklin Recreation Center on Hospital Boulevard in Franklin and the Baldwin Community Center in Baldwin on LA Highway 83.

LaGrange Elementary School and Franklin High School are closing early since power is being turned off as a precautionary measure for areas near the incident. Buses have arrived. Parents are allowed to pick up their children.

LA Hwy 182 is open across the parish. US 90 remains closed from LA 3215 (Garden City) to LA 83 (Baldwin).

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Louisiana State Police spokesman Master Trooper Brooks David says Hazmat crews are en route to Yokely Road in the area of Baldwin because of a reported pipeline break.

Deputies with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Department say there’s a dense chemical fog after a tractor struck an Enterprise Products valve at the railroad tracks, according to our news partners at KATC. It’s not known yet what the leaking chemical is but a heavy fog is rolling through the area.

Yokely Road at Northwest Boulevard is closed, as well as US 90 East and West in Franklin.

We’ll keep you updated as we learn more information.

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