Roseland residents demand answers after Smitty’s Supply fire

ROSELAND, La. (WGNO) — Many residents in the Roseland area feel left in the dark as to what exactly happened in the Smitty’s Supply fire and what hazards it could pose for their health.

They are now demanding answers, primarily about what was raining from the air and how dangerous it was to breathe in.

“Right now, they’re saying that you know they checking it out and it isn’t nothing in there, you know, but I don’t believe that at all,” resident Sharon Garner Roberson said.

“That first night, that Friday night, I went to bed with a headache and for them to say that the air is safe, no,” resident Shameka Lee said.

Others are concerned about the oily residue covering their homes and yards.

“I have two ponds, I have fruit trees, I have these chickens lay eggs who are eating this oily grass, and I have a garden; and I just want to know is the egg safe to eat? Is my food safe to eat? Are my vegetables in my garden safe or should I just throw everything away?” resident Debrah Eusea asked.

Parish officials say 50 different chemicals are stored at the Smitty’s facility.

None have been named to the public yet, though they say that test results should be back soon.

In the meantime, three separate class-action lawsuits against the plant are currently in the works.

“I think this is a good example of why you need class actions because you see here tonight there are many people who were injured in the same accident. So, we don’t need to try 500 or 1000 trials. We need to try one trial on liability and then work on the damages,” Representative Robby Carter said.

While many spoke, not a single representative from Smitty’s was at the meeting.

Some residents feel as if their response so far has been lacking.

“They should be out at least saying what can we do to help you ask as a corporation? What can we do to help this community to get back on its feet?” resident Gloria Steptoe asked.

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