Illinois chemical plant explosion, fires prompt evacuations
By SARA BURNETT and DON BABWINJune 14, 2021 GMT
CHICAGO (AP) An explosion at a northern Illinois chemical plant Monday morning sparked massive fires that sent flames and huge plumes of thick black smoke high into the air and debris raining onto the ground, prompting evacuations.
After 7 a.m., emergency crews rushed to the scene of the fire near Rockton, northwest of Chicago, at Chemtool Inc., a company that manufactures lubricants, grease products and other fluids, and is, according to the company, the largest manufacturer of grease in the Americas.
Rockton Fire Department Chief Kirk Wilson said about 70 employees were evacuated safely from the plant, and that one firefighter suffered a minor injury. Chemtool’s parent company, Lubrizol Corp., later said there were closer to 50 employees present when the plant was evacuated.
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A shocking tragedy unfolded in Chicago on Monday morning, when a chemical plant caught fire and went out of control. The blaze erupted at a facility owned by Chemtool Inc in Rockton and continuous efforts are underway to extinguish the fire.
Owing to the critical situation, mandatory evacuation orders were issued for area south of Chemtool. Trisha Diduch, the planning and development administrator for Rockton said around 1,000 people are likely affected by the evacuation order. The fire is so massive that it can be seen from Chicago office buildings located 100 miles away. The Rockton Police Department Chief Kirk Wilson has issued a warning, saying the fire could burn for several days.
SARA BURNETT and DON BABWIN
Associated Press
This footage was filmed and produced 14 June 2021. A massive fire broke out at a chemical plant in Rockton, northern Illinois Monday morning, June 14. An evacuation order was issued for residents within a one-mile radius of the site due to potentially hazardous chemicals in the air. Video Location: Rockton, Illinois, US
CHICAGO â An explosion at a northern Illinois chemical plant Monday morning sparked massive fires that sent flames and huge plumes of thick black smoke high into the air and debris raining onto the ground, prompting evacuations.
After 7 a.m., emergency crews rushed to the scene of the fire near Rockton, northwest of Chicago, at Chemtool Inc., a company that manufactures lubricants, grease products and other fluids, and is, according to the company, the largest manufacturer of grease in the Americas.