A 20-inch high pressure gas pipeline operated by Phillips 66 exploded on February 7th in Paradis, Louisiana, some 30 miles southwest of New Orleans.

The blast resulted in in the hospitalization of two workers—one of whom was transported to a burn center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Another three who were on-site suffered minor or no injuries. One worker, however, remains missing. St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne told The Advocate that they hoped the worker had "wandered off." There is an ongoing search for him in the nearby area.

The fire continues to burn and 60 homes in the area have been evacuated.

Phillips is invested in the contentious Dakota Access Pipeline with Energy Transfer Partners. At the same time, Energy Transfer is attempting to develop the Bayou Bridge pipeline, running 162 miles long and connecting refineries in Louisiana with Nederland, Texas. This project, like Dakota Access, has also divided the local population, with environmentalists demanding in the very least an environmental impact statement while supporters hail the boost the pipeline will allegedly give to the economy.