WHITING, IN – A disruption at BP’s Whiting refinery in northwest Indiana resulted in the unplanned flaring of gases, causing an unknown odor that triggered hundreds of concerned residents to make 911 calls.
The Porter County Emergency Management Agency reported the incident, assuring the community that BP crews were working to resolve the situation and that there was no immediate danger.
The incident, which reportedly started around 1 p.m. on Sunday, was confirmed by sources familiar with the situation. Later in the evening, local fire officials took to social media to provide updates to concerned residents, with most updates simply stating that the natural gas leak had not yet been resolved.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management was notified and will conduct evaluations. Both NIPSCO and the Michigan City Fire Department received reports of a gas leak, but investigations revealed the odor was not related to natural gas.
Updates will be provided as investigations continue.
