Rockton chemical fire could take 7 days to burn out, fire chief says
A chemical fire at Chemtool Inc. in Rockton north of Rockford that generated a plume of smoke large enough to be seen on weather radar continued to burn for a second day Tuesday, causing continued evacuations and road closures, officials say.
The fire, which started about 7 a.m. Monday, is burning at a rate of 1 inch per hour and could take seven days to burn out, according to Fire Chief Kirk Wilson.
All employees were able to get out of the plant quickly and no injuries were reported among workers, Wilson said. Two firefighters were hurt, one with a leg injury who was released on scene and the other who was hospitalized and evaluated for breathing difficulty, and later sent home, he said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
Homes and businesses within a 1-mile radius of Chemtool were ordered to evacuate, Rockton police said. Winnebago County public health officials advised residents within 3 miles of the fire to wear face masks outdoors, and handle debris from the sky with shovels and gloves and keep it separate from household waste.
All nonemergency traffic has been restricted on Kocher Street, Blackhawk Boulevard between Route 2 and North Bridge Street, Dingham Drive, Central Drive, Kile Drive, Wright Drive, Watts Avenue, North Blackhawk Boulevard between Central Drive and Prairie Hill Road, Prairie Hill Road between South Bluff Road and Route 2, Rockton police said in a Facebook post.
Residents who work in these areas have been advised to check in with employers before attempting to go to work.
Officials did not know the cause of the fire.
Fire personnel stopped dousing the blaze with water Monday afternoon due to concerns of chemical runoff into the nearby Rock River. The river is expected to be protected at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to Wilson. Fire suppression operations will begin soon after.
Officials are monitoring water supply to ensure there is no contamination, said Alicia Tate-Nadeau, acting director of Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
Air monitoring devices have been set up throughout the community and in Roscoe, where evacuees are settled, Wilson said. There is no danger to air quality at the ground level at this time, he added.
According to Bill Snyder, vice president of Lubrizol, the parent company of Chemtool, all 200 employees of the facility will continue to receive full pay, full benefits, and access to counseling services. There were about 70 working Monday morning.
“We are here to apologize, to support our employees, to support the community and do everything we can to support Chief Wilson and all the other resources that are on-site,” Snyder said at the news conference.
Residents can call 815-972-7300 or email rocktonchemfire@wchd.org for questions related to the fire, waste and debris, said Dr. Sandra Martell, spokesperson for Winnebago County Health Department.
Those affected and in need of help can call the Red Cross 24/7 disaster hotline at 877-597-0747.
Check back for updates.
