Whiting, IN – A flare-off event at the BP Whiting refinery late Tuesday night has prompted widespread reports of gas-like odors across Northwest Indiana and into parts of the south suburbs of Chicago early Wednesday morning.
Residents in Whiting, Hammond, and East Chicago, Indiana, as well as Illinois communities including Calumet City and Dolton, reported a strong gas smell lingering in the air following large, visible flames seen shooting from the refinery’s stacks overnight.
According to the Lake County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the BP Whiting refinery was “experiencing conditions that require materials to be burned in its flares.” The alert, issued Tuesday night, added, “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our neighbors.”
No injuries or evacuations were reported as of Wednesday morning. Flaring is a standard safety measure used at refineries to relieve excess pressure by burning off excess gases, typically during unplanned outages or maintenance.
The cause of Tuesday’s flaring has not yet been made public. BP has not issued an official statement as of Wednesday morning regarding the nature of the issue or how long flaring operations will continue.
Air quality concerns have surfaced among residents and local advocacy groups, who are urging officials and refinery representatives to provide more detailed updates and environmental testing data.
Local emergency management officials continue to monitor the situation and have encouraged residents experiencing strong odors or symptoms of irritation to stay indoors and report conditions to the proper authorities.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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