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.
The blaze erupted in huge billowing, burning clouds over the facility, followed by a wall of black smoke that blocked parts of the sky and the view beyond the plant.
The Rockton Police Department issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents within a one-mile radius of the chemical plant due to potentially dangerous chemicals released in the fire.
An evacuation site has been set up at Roscoe Middle School, police said. Drivers have also been advised to avoid the area near the plant.
“The fire in Rockton has caused smoke to cover the eastern third of Ogle County. Close windows and doors if you live east of Meridian Rd and monitor your indoor air quality. Please do not call 911 unless you’re having an emergency,” the Ogle County Sheriff said in a statement Monday morning.
A large number of fire trucks could be seen responding to the incident in videos posted to social media.
JUST IN – Large blaze at a Chemtool plant in Rockton, Illinois, after a massive explosion. Evacuations ordered in the area.pic.twitter.com/Js5XQO2bD4
— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) June 14, 2021
#UPDATE: Drone footage from the fire at the Chemtool facility in Rockton. (Courtesy: Karl Hoffman) pic.twitter.com/nvctAGjOav
— 23 WIFR (@23WIFR) June 14, 2021
WHOA… this may take a long while… An absolutely MASSIVE fire is raging at Chemtool in Rockton, Illinois, one of the largest grease manufacturers in the US | https://t.co/9qsEPLTQue via @13WREX pic.twitter.com/ihpvpKvWgz
— Evan Schreiber (@SchreiberEvan) June 14, 2021
Just for some perspective on the Chemtool fire…this is the cloud from about 13 miles away near N. 2nd St. and River Ln. pic.twitter.com/qq4XiMDa5u
— Eric Wilson (@Eric_Wilson99) June 14, 2021
#Rockton – a massive fire is burning at the Chemtool manufacturing plant. Fire dept issued a mandatory evacuation for anyone within a mile of the building. Large flames/some explosions. Gigantic plume of smoke (we could see it earlier this morning all the way from West Chicago). pic.twitter.com/3vc6xk36tO
— Jeanette Hudson (@JHudsontraffic) June 14, 2021
Chemtool plant fire from above.
This smoke plume is massive.
Can be seen from…
My house: 17 miles@13WREX: 21 miles
DeKalb: 48 miles pic.twitter.com/XrV1fSAm6R— James Stratton (@JamesStrattonTV) June 14, 2021
The cause of the explosion is still unclear.
The company manufactures and distributes fluids, lubricants, and grease products internationally.
Chemtool issued a statement confirming that all employees of the plant are safe and accounted for, according to CNN affiliate WREX.
“We have confirmed all on site are safe and accounted for. Our concern right now is for the safety of all our employees and the surrounding community. As a precaution, authorities have evacuated residents in a one-mile radius of the site,” Chemtool said.
“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 manufacturer added.
About 70 onsite Chemtool employees were evacuated without injuries. One firefighter was treated for injuries, Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson said during a press conference.
Wilson added that “there is no danger to air quality” after Rockford’s HAZMAT team conducted air quality tests.
One Chemtool employee described his experience fleeing the plant to Rockford’s WTVO.
“Everybody that got us out of there — they were on top of it. We had plenty of time to get out. Everybody got out. It was pretty well organized. There’s a lot of grease, oil, and fluids in there. It’s gonna burn for a while. If it was going to explode, it would’ve already done it. Those small explosions that everyone’s seeing are drums of fluid or grease,” the employee reportedly said.
Debris from the explosion fell from the sky onto nearby cars, and ashes rained down on residential areas south of the plant as far away as DeKalb.
“As a precaution, if you can see the smoke plume from the Chemtool fire, please stay indoors; close your windows and doors; and turn off your air conditioners. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. More information will be coming as our state-wide, coordinated response continues,” the City of Rockford said.