ROCKTON, Ill. – A massive chemical fire that darkened skies with plumes of black smoke over parts of northern Illinois could burn for days, fire officials said Monday.
As many as 175 firefighters from 45 fire departments responded to the fast-moving, wind-driven fire at Chemtool, a grease and lubricant manufacturer in Rockton, Illinois.
About 70 Chemtool employees and roughly 150 homes within a one-mile radius of the plant were evacuated as the manufacturing plant went up in flames.
No employees or area residents were injured, Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson said at a Monday news conference. A firefighter was taken from the scene to a hospital because of respiratory problems. He was treated and released.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker activated state emergency officials to monitor the fire and environmental impact in Winnebago County.
The plant is no longer standing, but the fire is far from over, Wilson said.
“We are thinking that this is going to be a several-day event to have all this product burned off,” Wilson said. “That’s the best thing that we can do right now.”
The blaze started about 7 a.m. Monday, and explosions could be seen and heard throughout the morning, sending ash and debris into yards beyond the mandatory evacuation zone.
Tom Buffum, who lives within a half-mile of Chemtool, said he mistook the explosions at the plant for thunder.
“After the third explosion, he came into the bedroom whining,” Buffum said of the family dog, Krypto. “He was scared.”
Buffum, his daughter, two grandchildren, Krypto, a cat and a ferret were evacuated from their home by police. The family was among 15 people taking shelter at a nearby middle school.
In a statement Monday morning, Chemtool’s owner, Lubrizol Corporation, said everyone on the site was safe and accounted for.
“We do not yet know what caused this incident, but we will be working with local authorities and with our own risk management team to determine what happened and identify any corrective actions. We will share more details as they are known,” the company said.
Lubrizol Corporation is a Berkshire Hathaway Company that owns and operates more than 100 manufacturing facilities, sales and technical offices around the world and has approximately 8,800 employees.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Emergency Management Agency dispatched crews to the area, and members of the Illinois National Guard were also on the scene.
Winnebago County Public Health Administrator Sandra Martell urged those living within three miles of the plant to wear a mask or face covering when outdoors.
The Rockford Fire Department sent its hazardous materials team to conduct an air quality analysis, and Wilson, the fire chief, said, “At this point in time, there is no danger to air quality at ground level.”
However, county officials later said more in-depth testing with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be needed to measure the impact to air, water and land.
“We are first and foremost focused on life safety in addressing concerns to make sure we mitigate the current existing conditions,” Martell said Monday.
While residents within a mile of the plant have been asked to evacuate, residents two miles directly south of Chemtool are asked to stay indoors as a precaution, close windows and doors, and turn off air conditioner/HVAC units.
Wilson said firefighters were also concerned about runoff getting into the Rock River, which is about 300 meters from the plant.
Rockton Village President John Peterson called the loss of the Chemtool building, its operations and possibly jobs “a shame.”
“They’ve been good partners with our village since they got here,” he said. “They’re a good employer, and they have always been supportive of the village.
“It’s still too early to talk about what is going to happen next.”
Follow reporter Chris Green on Twitter: @chrisfgreen
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