The column of smoke that could be seen from Calcasieu Refinery was from a flare, according to Jared Maze, director of Calcasieu Parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

It was not from a fire but a lightning strike that interrupted power, which resulted in more products being sent to burn off via flare, Maze said.

Last year in June, a shelter-in-place was ordered for the vicinity when lightning hit an oil tank containing naphtha. A few days later, a fire broke out at the refining company located in South Lake Charles as the tank was being dismantled, resulting in another shelter-in-place.