Friday was anything but a normal day at Riverside Academy.

The school’s faculty and students had to be evacuated shortly after first period due to an explosion and fire at the nearby Marathon Petroleum Plant in Garyville. The plume of thick black smoke was clearly visible from the campus as flames shot into the sky. There were two minor injuries reported on the plant site, according to plant officials, but no one at Riverside was injured.

Riverside Principal Holly Haase and her staff made a quick decision to move students to a safer location at East St. John High School after being notified of the fire. The children were loaded into buses and automobiles for the short drive then sent to the gymnasium where they waited for their parents to sign them out. All of the children were gone by noon.

According to Marathon officials, the fire began early Friday morning due to a chemical leak. The fire was put out Monday morning. Plant officials are continuing to monitor the situation and air quality in the area.