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CLARIFICATION: Emergency officials originally referred to the incident as a fire, but after further review, investigators say the chemical reaction that caused such smoke may not have sparked an actual flame.

Louisiana State Police said an exothermic reaction produces smoke and heat, but it is unknown if flames were involved in the BioLab incident. A spokesperson for the company said no fire was involved.

WESTLAKE, La. (KPLC) - Parts of Southwest Louisiana were under a shelter-in-place order around the BioLab facility in Westlake after a chemical accident this morning.

At around 8:30, the Calcasieu Office of Homeland Security issued a precautionary shelter-in-place for the area around BioLab. Officials said it was due to a chemical incident causing billowing smoke from a warehouse at the facility.

“It was from the residual of their products and normal products that they produce for chlorine, tablet stuff for pool supplies. So, it was a combination of that and some pallets stored in that area,” said Jared Maze, Calcasieu Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness director.

The shelter-in-place first extended a quarter-mile around the plant and later was expanded to a half-mile radius. People in the area were notified in various ways from phone alerts by OHSEP, law enforcement, and the media.

While initial information is sometimes inexact, Maze said it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

“When in doubt, always shelter in place until you get further information from the media or from us as a precautionary measure to protect yourself,” Maze said.

That advice was appreciated by many accustomed to living in a chemical manufacturing area.

“I was glad we heard about it and I’m glad it was nothing serious, but I have to trust that the industries are always going to inform us and all the officials are going to do the right thing and get the word out there,” Karen Boudreaux of Westlake said.

While some may have caught wind of a distinct smell, Maze says that doesn’t necessarily indicate a harmful amount of chemicals in the air.

“There was a combination of smoke and a chlorine smell off-site. No large impact to the area,” Maze said.

Plant monitors have reported non-detect chlorine readings, indicating that chlorine levels are within safe limits, according to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

No injuries have been reported. An investigation into the cause of the incident is underway.