NewsHuge Explosion At Chemical Plant Outside ChicagoThe Rockton Police Department issued a mandatory evacuation order.Mairead Elordi•Jun 14, 2021Raymond Boyd/Getty Images A huge fiery explosion occurred at a chemical plant outside Chicago early Monday morning.The fire at Chemtool Incorporated in Rockton, Illinois, about 80 miles northwest of Chicago, began between 7 and 7:30 am, according to local news reports.