ARNAUDVILLE — A natural gas well ruptured and ignited, forcing residents to be evacuated and roads closed much of the day Wednesday, state police said.

Police and local firefighters were called to the area near Joe Kidder and Lee Roy Borque roads about 11 a.m.

St. Martin Parish Fire District posted a brief video on Facebook showing flames and plumes of smoke rising into the sky.

State police said residents within a half-mile of the rupture were asked to evacuate, an evacuation that was not mandatory. It was not clear how many residents left the area.

Arnaudville Volunteer Fire Department, Cecilia Volunteer Fire Department, Louisiana State Police and members of St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office were at the scene. Fire crews were sent home after about five hours as the gas continued to burn.

Louisiana State Police Hazmat Team members remained at the site into the night as a precaution and were expected to work with officials from the gas company to determine how to extinguish the fire.