An explosion and fire at a chemical plant in Greenville, Mississippi, sent a massive cloud of black smoke into the sky Wednesday morning and prompted a shelter-in-place order for everyone nearby.
The incident occurred just after 7 a.m. at the Loveland Products facility, formerly known as Platte Chemical, on Platte Road.
City officials said the Greenville Fire Department was notified of the blast around 7:10 a.m., with preliminary information from plant management indicating the fire involved herbicide inside a “hot box.”
Videos posted on social media captured the blaze and heavy black smoke coming from the industrial site.
WATCH:
Shelter in place orders issued after explosion and fire at Greenville, Mississippi chemical plant. https://t.co/nTu4I7oazx
— WBC24 (@WBC24News) November 4, 2026
The Washington County Emergency Operations Center issued the shelter-in-place order shortly before 9:30 a.m. because of the risk from potentially hazardous smoke.
The order covered areas bordered by Highway 182 from Beauchamp Road to Kuehn Road and VFW Road from Beauchamp to Kuehn Road.
Residents in the affected zone were told to stay indoors, keep windows and exterior doors closed, turn off HVAC and ventilation systems that pull in outside air, and avoid all outdoor activity until further notice.
Officials advised calling 911 for symptoms including difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, fainting, or seizures.
No injuries were reported at the plant as of Wednesday afternoon, according to a report from NewsDay.
Multiple agencies responded, including the Greenville, Riverside, Leland, and Greenville Mid-Delta Airport fire departments, which brought specialized foam.
Regional hazardous materials teams, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality were also on site to monitor and contain the chemical fire.
Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons said the priority was the safety of residents, first responders, and plant workers.
“Our first priority is the safety of our residents, our first responders, and everyone working at or near the facility. We are coordinating with emergency response agencies to assess the situation, contain the fire, and determine whether additional protective measures are necessary,” Mayor Simmons said, according to a report from Action News 5.
“I ask our citizens to remain calm, avoid the immediate area, and allow our firefighters and emergency personnel the space they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. We will continue monitoring this situation closely and providing updates as verified information becomes available. The safety of our people will always come first.”
Nutrien, the parent company of Loveland Products, said the fire was “being managed” and that plant leadership was working with first responders.
Loveland Products manufactures fertilizers, plant nutrition products, and crop protection chemicals, including herbicides and pesticides.
The fire was described in the mid-morning as under control, but not fully extinguished, as crews continued to fight it.
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