When communities are impacted by industrial fires, people need straight answers and practical help. The experienced environmental attorneys at The Collins Law Firm have stood with residents after major chemical and lubricant‐facility disasters—including the Chemtool catastrophe in Rockton, Illinois—fighting to protect their legal rights. And we’re prepared to help families in Tangipahoa Parish navigate the aftermath of the Smitty’s Supply explosion and fire in Roseland, Louisiana.
What Happened at Smitty’s Supply?
On Friday, August 22, 2025, at approximately 12:50 p.m., a powerful explosion struck the Smitty’s Supply, Inc. automotive lubricants plant in Roseland, followed by multiple secondary blasts and a massive fire.
Officials reported rapid growth of the fire, heavy black smoke, and “oil rain”/oily soot falling on surrounding areas. By Monday, August 25, authorities said the fire was ~98% contained, with the U.S. EPA assuming the lead for environmental response.
A mandatory 1-mile evacuation was ordered shortly after the blast. On Tuesday, August 26, parish officials lifted the evacuation, while keeping certain roads closed to protect response operations.
The company has faced scrutiny in the past, including being cited multiple times by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to records. The cause of the explosion is unknown and remains under investigation.
Where the Impacts Are Being Felt
The plant sits near the Tangipahoa River. Environmental agencies are testing soil, water, and debris after residents reported oily residue and black soot on vehicles and property. Louisiana’s Department of Environmental Quality is continuing to conduct air monitoring, sampling, and analysis.
Why Did the Explosion Happen?
At this stage, officials have not identified a definitive cause. Smitty’s stores and processes petroleum-based products (e.g., motor oil, brake fluid, solvents), which can produce intense, soot-rich fires and recurring “pops” or explosions when storage vessels or piping fail under heat. Authorities have noted the materials likely involved were petroleum-based, with a full chemical inventory request pending.
Evacuations, Air Monitoring, and Health Protections
Evacuation: A 1-mile mandatory evacuation was ordered initially; it has now been lifted, though limited road closures remain.
Air Monitoring: State and federal agencies report no imminent danger based on current readings, while continuing real-time monitoring. Residents, however, have reported nuisance odors and soot; continued caution is appropriate until official testing is complete.
What Chemicals Were Involved?
Public materials indicate Smitty’s manufactures and stores automotive lubricants and related fluids (e.g., motor oil, brake fluid; ethanol may be present). These products, when burning, can generate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fine particulate matter (PM), depositing oily soot and residue on homes, vehicles, and yards—exactly what residents have described. Particulate matter and PAHs can negatively affect human health, so it is important to discover exactly what is contaminating the area. A full ingredient list has been requested by local officials but has not yet been publicly released.
Resulting Contamination and What to Watch
Early indicators point to oily fallout/soot deposition and potential sheen on nearby waterways. EPA has begun soil, debris, and water sampling, with lab results pending. Residents should document all visible residues, unusual odors, and any health symptoms, and save receipts for cleaning, filters, and relocation costs.
How is the Smitty’s Explosion Similar to the Chemtool Disaster
Smitty’s Supply and Chemtool are both lubricant/chemical facilities; both events involved large-scale fires, thick black smoke, and oily particulate fallout, and both prompted mandatory evacuations and EPA-led environmental sampling across air, soil, and water. In Rockton, Illinois (Chemtool), the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) recommended masking within 3 miles, a 1-mile evacuation, and issued detailed guidance for returning home and cleaning soot safely—protocols that are highly relevant to Roseland residents now assessing exposure and cleanup decisions.
Winnebago County Health Department Safety Tips from the Chemtool explosion:
Masking & PPE for cleanup: Use N95 or better, gloves, long sleeves; wear goggles when activities may aerosolize ash. Winnebago County Health Department
Avoid stirring soot: Do not use leaf blowers; gently wet outdoor ash before removal; use HEPA vacuums indoors. Winnebago County Health Department
Kids, pets, and surfaces: Keep children and pets away from ash; wash toys, patio furniture, grills, and pools before use.
Gardens & food: Thoroughly wash produce; soak leafy greens in a mild vinegar solution to lift particles.
Private wells & filters: Replace HVAC filters; well users in evacuation zones should ask the health department about testing before drinking.
These recommendations reflect best-practice public health guidance after soot-rich industrial fires and can reduce inhalation/ingestion of residues until official sampling clarifies actual risk levels.
What Residents Can Do Right Now
Document everything. Photograph soot/oily residues, affected rooms, vehicles, vegetation, and any cleanup efforts. Keep a log of odors/symptoms. (This mirrors Chemtool guidance.)
Protect your home and family. Use N95+ for dusty cleanups; wet-wipe hard surfaces; HEPA vacuum; replace HVAC filters; keep kids/pets away from ash.
Track official updates. EPA/State will post air/soil/water results as well as guidance for returning and cleaning up debris; check parish and EPA updates frequently.
Consider your claims. Costs for evacuation, cleaning, filter replacement, lost wages, and property damage may be recoverable depending on the facts and law.
Call an experienced environmental attorney. The attorneys at The Collins Law Firm can help you protect your family and understand your legal rights.
Our Experience: From Chemtool to Roseland
The Collins Law Firm, P.C. brings hands-on experience from representing residents impacted by the Chemtool lubricant-facility disaster—a case involving oily soot deposition, large evacuations, and long-tail sampling of air, soil, and water. That experience translates directly to the issues now confronting Roseland: preserving evidence, understanding EPA data, coordinating property testing, and building a case for damages that will stand up in court.
Call The Collins Law Firm for Answers
The Smitty’s Supply fire shares critical features with Chemtool: petroleum-based fuels, soot-heavy smoke, and community evacuations, followed by EPA-led sampling and a return of residents to the area. As testing results come in, residents should protect their health, clean carefully, preserve documentation, and pursue their legal rights.
If your family, home, or business was affected by the Roseland incident, the environmental lawyers at The Collins Law Firm, P.C. are ready to help you evaluate injury and property claims, navigate testing, and pursue accountability against the company responsible. We bring the same resolve we brought to Chemtool—and we’re here to fight for your recovery. Call us at (630) 527-1595 for a FREE consultation.For more information on chemical plant explosions and the Chemtool Case, click on this link.
