Illinois Chemical Plant Fire 'Still Smoldering' As Evacuation, Mask Orders Stay In Place

Chicago officials provided an update at a Wednesday morning press conference on the chemical plant that exploded on Monday, saying the fire is contained, but still smoldering.

Rockton Fire Chief Kirk Wilson said no hazardous materials have ended up in the waterways, and while flare-ups may occur, the fire department has the fire mostly under control.

The Chemtool plant produced industrial lubricants, and while Chief Wilson said they are still reviewing the air quality in the surrounding areas, the one-mile evacuation order put in place on Monday is still in effect. Anyone within three miles of the plant should wear a face mask when going outdoors as well.

Officials said Tuesday that specialized crews and emergency responders had been called in to assist the Rockton Fire Department, and Chief Wilson was optimistic about stopping the fire.

"Fire suppression efforts are possible," he said in a press conference Tuesday. "Things are working into our favor."

On Tuesday morning, the vice president of operations at Lubrizol, Chemtool's parent company, issued an apology and said the organization was there to support the community.

"It's obviously a very severe impact and we apologize to the people who had to be evacuated whose property and other things may have been impacted by the fire," said vice president Bill Snyder.

It remains unclear what caused the fire, and it is currently under investigation as crews work to put the remaining flames out. ABC7 reported that all 70 of the Chemtool plant employees managed to evacuate safely before the building had exploded.

WLS reported fire crews poured a special foam on the ruined structure to prevent any more leakage. Additionally, crews dug trenches south and west of the Chemtool plant to prevent any contaminated runoff from entering the nearby Rock River.

Officials are still concerned about what the fire means to the surrounding environment. Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli previously told Newsweek that a disaster proclamation issued from June 14 to June 21 will "ensure the efficient delivery of all necessary personnel and supplies in order to quickly curb any negative environmental effects of the fire."

Besides wearing masks outdoors, people in the area have also been urged not to pick up waste that falls from the sky, as it is still unclear what the waste might contain.

Newsweek reached out to Illinois Emergency Management and the Environmental Protection Agency for comment.