Roseland students return to schoolyard 12 days after Smitty’s fire

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - State officials are awaiting the results of a new round of EPA testing as they urge residents to exercise caution around the site of the Smitty’s fire in Roseland.

Doctors say children and pregnant women could be vulnerable to toxic substances found in soot, and the school system says it is taking precautions.

With oil runoff from the fire still being detected in the Tangipahoa River, Tangipahoa Parish School Superintendent Melissa Stilley said only one school had to be shut down.

Stilley reopened Roseland Montessori last week but urged students to remain indoors as a precaution.

“We even made modifications to have bottled water at the schools as a precaution and we did not allow the students to go outside on the playground on the grass for recess and we did indoor activity,” said Stilley.

Stilley says Roseland may now be the cleanest school in the system, and after a thorough pressure washing, the schoolyard is open once again after the EPA gave the green light.

“We did another check of the playground area and we have given the clearance to the principal to allow the students to go outside and play starting today,” said Stilley.

The EPA’s most recent test on soot from two sites near Roseland shows the presence of arsenic, lead and barium. However, the EPA states that the quantities of toxic substances pose no imminent threat.

“These are very low values and their risk for human toxicity is fairly low however arsenic and lead have significant human consequences,” said toxicologist Dr. Michael Policastro.

Toxicologists now await further EPA test results, expected later this week.

“When you talk about chronic lead exposures in vulnerable populations let alone animals plants etc., you worry about pregnant women and children,” said Policastro.

Tangipahoa Parish school officials say school attendance has been close to 100%.

“I did receive an email from one parent who had concerns about sending her child back to school. I reassured her that all the proper testing and air quality and services have been tested by the EPA and we’ve been given clearance of that,” said Stilley.

Nearby farms are another concern. The Louisiana agriculture commissioner is working with farmers one-on-one as they deal with the aftermath of the Smitty’s Supply explosion and fire.

The ag commissioner issued an advisory telling farmers that any food or feed products with visible contamination should be discarded.

Ranchers like Nick Smith Jr., who lives about 15 miles east of the fire, said he’s seen no oily residue in his ponds or fields.

“I think we were very very lucky that we live far enough away that we didn’t have any drastic impact from it we had a little oil at my house the Friday night of the fire,” said Smith.

The ag commissioner also says all water sources for pets and livestock should be cleaned out and free from any soot, and urges animal owners to contact a veterinarian if an animal shows any sign of illness.

The latest round of EPA test results could be released as early as Thursday.

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