A suspected power outage prompted BP to shut down its Whiting refinery Thursday. A BP spokesperson says refinery office buildings were evacuated "out of an abundance of caution."
Lake County officials say the plant is flaring excess gasses to relieve pressure on the system, and atmospheric readings currently show no danger to the public.
BP says it activated its emergency response team, and local fire departments closed nearby roads to help with the evacuation.
The city of Whiting posted an update on its website just after 4:00 p.m., saying that BP had lifted the evacuation, but nearby roads remain closed.
