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From Tim Olk at Chem Tools located at 1165 Prairie Hill Road in Rockton, IL:
Attached are photos capturing the intense black smoke and towering flames rising from the chemical fire that broke out early this morning. Tim Olk's images vividly depict the scale of the incident, with thick plumes obscuring the sky and casting a dark shadow over the surrounding area.
Quoting excerpts from abc7Chicago.com, an explosion occurred near Rockton, Illinois, at the Chemtool chemical plant around 7 a.m. This ongoing blaze has drawn response efforts from approximately 40 to 45 agencies across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Despite these extensive resources, firefighting teams have encountered significant challenges in containing the fire.
Chemtool specializes in producing industrial lubricants, and prior to the incident, roughly 70 employees had already been evacuated. While no employee injuries were reported, a firefighter sustained minor injuries and was transported for evaluation. Notably, Chemtool has maintained a clean record over the last three years, with no compliance violations recorded in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s database.
Preliminary air quality assessments indicate no immediate threat to ground-level air safety; however, out of an abundance of caution, local authorities deemed it prudent to issue a mandatory evacuation for all residents and businesses within a one-mile radius of 1165 Prairie Hill Road. Additionally, road closures have been implemented to prevent access to the affected area.
Fire officials have suspended water-based firefighting operations to mitigate potential environmental risks, such as contamination of nearby water bodies due to runoff. Instead, they are opting to allow the oil-based products to burn off naturally, acknowledging that this approach may prolong the firefighting effort into a multi-day operation.
As someone who lives nearby, I can confirm that the smoke remains visible throughout the region, creating an eerie atmosphere even several miles away. Residents are urged to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and follow any further instructions from local authorities regarding evacuation or shelter-in-place protocols. Updates continue to emerge as emergency responders work tirelessly to manage the situation and ensure public safety.