UPDATE: 7:57 a.m. All lanes are now open on I-10 in both directions following a controlled detonation and burn of the remaining isobutane shortly before midnight last night, according to Louisiana State Police.
A boom erupted through the city that could be heard miles away from the 10/12 junction, with the ensuing flame filling the roadway and shooting into the air.
Hazmat crews juggled options late into the evening Wednesday before deciding the controlled detonation and burn would best suit the situation for removing the remaining isobutane from the leaking tanker, which would have taken weeks to leak out if left unattended, LSP said.
Once the remaining vapor burned off, a frenzy of tow trucks, street sweepers, engineers and law enforcement take over to ensure the safety of the road.
Truckloads of sand and large steel plates were brought in to protect the roadway from the flames, said Trooper Stephen Hammons of LSP Troop I.
City officials called an evacuation for anyone within a radius of 500 yards before the burn took place, which affected two hotels and about 40 residents, Hammons said.
After about five hours, evacuees returned home around 3 a.m.
The westbound lanes of I-10 reopened shortly after 6 a.m., with all eastbound lanes opening at 6:50 a.m., according to LSP. ____ Contact Ben Wallace at [email protected]