The fire department said a “large scale incident” was underway after a reported explosion at the address of Givaudan Sense Colours, which makes natural food colorings.
At least 11 people were injured in Louisville, Kentucky, and residents were asked to shelter in place in the one-mile radius of an explosion Tuesday in a neighborhood east of downtown.
The city’s emergency services posted on X that there was a “hazardous materials incident” at the address of Givaudan Sense Colours, which makes natural food colorings. Louisville Metro Police said officers blocked off the roads around the location.
It is the scene of a “large scale incident,” the Louisville Fire Department said on X. A shelter-in-place order was lifted about an hour after it was issued Tuesday afternoon.
No deaths were reported, and officials did not give conditions of the injured, who were taken to local hospitals.
Fire Chief Brian O’Neill told reporters the response was for an explosion, structural collapse and hazardous material incident. He credited the workers with their emergency response to get most people out.
Firefighters rescued one person who was trapped and assisted others in escaping the building.
“Once we got the fire knocked down, we immediately started air monitoring for the immediate area,” O’Neill said. “You may have heard that there was an evacuation; that was a precautionary measure.”
He added that it was ordered because authorities did not know what they were up against and that the air monitoring continues. Officials said some people were evacuated because they were unable to shelter inside because of blown-out windows.
Nothing has shown chemical issues in the air to cause concern, O’Neill said. Monitoring will continue as the structural issues may create new leaks, he said.
Video from NBC affiliate WAVE showed a large police presence and emergency services vehicles lining what appeared to be a residential street.
Firefighters and trucks were roughly two blocks from where the caution tape blocked off the road.
WAVE anchor John Boel posted video from the station’s sky track camera that he said caught the moment of an explosion in Clifton, where the fire was.
Authorities did not provide additional information, and Givaudan Sense Colours did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
