Oil Cleanup After Roseland Smitty’s Explosion | Hammond & Amite Lawyers

What happened—and why cleanup quality matters 

A major explosion and fire at Smitty’s Supply—just north of Roseland and minutes from Hammond and Amite—has raised urgent questions about airborne soot, oily residues, and potential contamination on private property. When petroleum products burn or are released, droplets and particulates can travel with wind and rain and settle on roofs, vehicles, yards, gardens, and waterways. If oil reaches soil, it can bind to soil particles and linger, slowly releasing chemicals over time. Our team at Godbey Giardina Law Group has first-hand experience with similar claims from the BP oil spill and other unfortunate events Louisiana has seen over the years.  

Bottom line: fast, professional testing and cleanup isn’t just about aesthetics—it protects health, property values, crops/livestock, and future legal claims. 

Why you need a licensed mitigation company (not a handyman with a pressure washer) 

Oil and lubricants aren’t like mud or ordinary soot. Untrained cleanup can: 

• Drive contamination deeper into soil or building materials. 

• Spread residues to clean areas via runoff. 

• Invalidate insurance or evidence by destroying chain-of-custody or using nonapproved methods. 

What a qualified mitigation team should do 

• Document before touching anything: photo/video, sampling plan, and moisture/soot mapping. 

• Use certified sampling: wipe, bulk, and soil/vegetation sampling with a defensible chain of custody. 

• Follow recognized methods: HEPA containment, sorbents, emulsifierfree detergents approved for petroleum residues, and proper waste characterization/disposal. 

• Protect sensitive areas: wells, ponds, gardens, livestock enclosures, HVAC intakes, and storm drains. 

• Deliver lab reports & clearance criteria: so you have proof your property is safe—and admissible evidence for your claim. 

At Godbey Giardina Law Group, we work with a vetted network of licensed, insured, and experienced environmental remediation companies that handle petroleum impacts in Louisiana homes, farms, and commercial sites. 

How an attorney adds immediate value 

A plaintiff attorney who understands environmental loss does more than “file a claim.” We: 

1. Preserve evidence fast (letters to responsible parties/insurers; site access; nospoliation notices). 

1. Coordinate qualified testing through neutral, credentialed labs and licensed mitigation companies. 

1. Secure temporary housing & emergency needs through insurers when property is unsafe. 

1. Pursue full damages: testing & cleanup, landscaping/crop loss, business interruption, contents cleaning/replacement, diminished value, medical monitoring (when appropriate), and attorney fees where available. 

1. Keep agencies in the loop while protecting your individual claims and recovery rights. 

Signs you may have an oil or lubricant impact 

• Rainbow sheen or oily residue after rain on patios, vehicles, birdbaths, or ponds. 

• Sooty or sticky deposits on windowsills, AC coils, gutters, or solar panels. 

• Odors (petroleum, solvent) indoors when HVAC runs. 

• Vegetation stress: yellowing or dieoff in drip lines or low spots. 

• Irritated eyes/skin or headaches after being outdoors near fallout. 

If you notice these, don’t pressurewash. Photograph, bag a clean wipe sample (gloves; zip bag), and call us. We’ll arrange certified sampling and a licensed cleanup plan. 

What to do in the first 72 hours 

1. Document: Photos/video of every surface (roof, vehicles, windows, patio furniture, garden, water features). Note dates/times and weather. 

1. Cover air intakes & protect pets/livestock. Replace HVAC filters with MERV 13+ after a professional inspection. 

1. Preserve samples properly: Keep any visible residues undisturbed until a professional collects chainofcustody samples. 

1. Save receipts for filters, temporary lodging, air purifiers, or lost business income. 

1. Call an attorney to coordinate licensed testing/cleanup and put carriers on notice. 

Common questions (Hammond • Amite • Roseland) 

Is it safe to garden or let kids play outside? Don’t assume. The answer depends on sampling results. Until then, avoid gardening, pressurewashing, or letting kids play in visibly impacted areas. 

Will insurance pay for mitigation? Homeowner, farm, or commercial policies may cover emergency services and remediation caused by a covered peril or thirdparty negligence. We help position your claim and pursue the atfault party to get you the full compensation you deserve. 

How long can oil stay in soil? Petroleum impacts can persist for months to years depending on product type, soil, and weather. That’s why we insist on defensible testing, proper cleanup, and—when needed—longterm monitoring. 

Could this affect indoor air? Yes. Residues can be tracked inside or enter through HVAC systems. Proper HVAC inspection, filter upgrades, coil cleaning, and indoor surface protocols are part of a professional plan. 

Our process for residents and businesses 

• Free, fast case evaluation for Hammond, Amite, Roseland, and greater Tangipahoa Parish. 

• Onsite assessment with a licensed mitigation company. 

• Sampling plan tailored to your property (soil, water, vegetation, surfaces, and indoor dust as indicated). 

• Written remediation scope & estimate to prove your claim. 

• Project management & legal advocacy through completion, including retesting and documentation for property files or future sale disclosures. 

Protect your rights now 

If your home, farm, or business may have been impacted by the Smitty’s Supply explosion fallout, contact Godbey Giardina Law Group. Our team has first-hand experience dealing with these types of claims. We’ll mobilize licensed experts, document your losses, and pursue every dollar available from the atfault party and applicable insurance. 

Call:985-590-4650

Email: claims@g-glawgroup.com

Service area: Tangipahoa Parish, Livingston Parish, St. Helena Parish, Washington Parish, and surrounding communities.