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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- | |
| Huge blaze breaks out at Illinois chemical site after enormous explosion, locals evacuated. | |
| 2021-06-15 | |
Several fire departments are tackling a huge blaze at a chemical plant in Rockton, Illinois. People living within a one-mile radius of the site are being evacuated from the area, the local fire chief said. The fire was reported at around 7 am local time (8 am ET) on Monday at Chemtool Incorporated in Rockton, according to local media. There have been no reports of fatalities. Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson said 70 plant employees were evacuated from the building prior to the arrival of fire crews. One firefighter, who sustained minor injuries and walked to an ambulance, was the only injury reported, he told a press conference. Wilson also said there is “no danger” to air quality at ground level, explaining that the evacuation zone was a “precautionary measure.” He said the plan now is to let the oil-based lubricants at the plant burn off over the next few days. Firefighters have stopped using water on the fire to prevent runoff into local waterways to avoid an “environmental nightmare,” he added. | |
| Posted by:Fred |