‘The rain was black’: A plant explosion set off a toxic bomb in this Louisiana town

‘The rain was black’: A plant explosion set off a toxic bomb in this Louisiana town

On Aug. 22, 2025, the small-town lives of residents living near the Smitty’s Supply facility in Roseland, Louisiana, changed forever when an explosion occurred at the automotive lubricant plant. The explosion and ensuing fire, which burned for days, triggered evacuations across the area, blanketing homes and businesses with smoke, soot, and oily residue, while spilling petroleum products from the plant into area waterways, including several adja…