By SARA BURNETT and DON BABWIN
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) 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.
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.
Hundreds evacuated after blast at US chemical plant - La Prensa Latina Media
laprensalatina.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from laprensalatina.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Explosion Rocks Illinois Plant, May Burn for Days
manufacturing.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from manufacturing.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.