CONVENT, La. – The Latest on Louisiana refinery fire (all times local):

3:25 p.m.

Firefighters at a refinery along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge have contained a fire inside the plant.

Angela Goodwin, a spokeswoman for Motiva’s Convent Refinery, said a fire began in the H-Oil unit about 10:50 a.m. She said emergency response teams within the refinery brought the fire under control and the cause is under investigation.

She said other units in the refinery were not affected by the blaze and remained operational.

Television video from the scene showed flames in the centre of the plant and huge billows of black smoke coming from the plant. Goodwin said air monitoring confirmed there was no environmental impact to the community.

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12:20 p.m.

Officials at Motiva’s Convent Refinery, along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, say plant firefighters are battling a fire in one of its units.

General Manager Hugues Bourgogne (HEWZ bur-GOYN) said in a statement the fire start about 10:50 a.m. Thursday. He did not say what started it.

Witnesses have told local media outlets there was an explosion.

Bourgogne said Motiva initiated its emergency response plan and has deployed plant firefighters to respond to the fire.

Brandon Keller, public information officers for St. James Parish, says no injuries have been reported.

Keller said local fire departments were on standby, if needed.

The refinery produces conventional petroleum products including regular, premium and low-sulfur gasoline.

Motiva is owned equally by subsidiaries of Saudi Aramco and Shell Oil Company.

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12:30 p.m.

Firefighters at a refinery along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge are fighting a fire inside the plant.

Chief Ryan Louque (luke) of the neighbouring St. James Fire Department tells The Associated Press the Motiva refinery is dealing with the fire itself, and no public fire departments are involved.

Officials with the St. James Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness told WAFB TV there have been no reports of injuries.

Television video from the scene show flames in the centre of the plant.

Plant officials did not immediately return calls to The Associated Press.

The refinery produces a full slate of conventional petroleum products including regular, premium and low-sulfur gasoline.

Motiva is owned equally by subsidiaries of Saudi Aramco and Shell Oil Company.