Huge Chemical fire

[PHATINJUN]

W.e got a huge chemical plant fire going at Rockton IL Chem Tool Plant. Many explosions been going since 7am cst. Many evacuations. This is big! Kurt

[Graybeard]

You far enough away to be safe Kurt?

[Ranger99]

Are they evacuating people, or is
it that bad?

[DDZ]

They are saying that it could burn for days. Water is not being used on the fire, because of the fear of the contaminated water running into a nearby river.  They said they want people within a mile radius to evacuate.

[Ranger99]

I hope all the folks were prepared
and had some kind of plan ready
to evacuate and a place (places)
planned out to go to

[ironglows]

Mmmm, Rockland is a major lubricant producer in the USA. Their products are strategically essential to an industrial based society.
Certainly is a lot of industrial plant fires and explosions happening all around the planet.

  ...Somethin' going on...

[PHATINJUN]

Bill as long as the wind stays from the North and east we are fine . I am about 7-8 miles away you can see the huge smoke plume west about 2 miles from my house. It was tracked 60 mi south and was seen on weather radar and from satillite photos they say it is going to burn for days. My daughters mortgage co is about 2 1/2 miles straight south. They are said to be one of the largest producers of grease and other lubes in the US. Parent company is Lubrizol about 500 employees most from the Rockton IL area. Also several other medium sized manufacturing facilities within the evac zone. Taylor Freezer who makes slushy machine and water fountains and other like items is right next door. So slushy prices will probly rise! No conspirousy going on here just a terrible accident. Not a good deal for local worker many have hopeful the company will help take care of them. Will keep them in our prayers. Kurt

[Graybeard]

Be safe Kurt and let us know how it all goes.

[PHATINJUN]

5 PM update . They have made major headway today a company that specializes in refinery fires from Louisiana. They have dug a trench  on the river side of the property and installed floating booms in the river. This emergency responce company has started to spray foam and it looks to me like they should be able to get heavy equipment in by morning to move debris around to get at hot spots. Company rep. says no employees will loose any money and will keep all benefits in place and all will still have jobs. My labor training taught me to be skeptical of these types of claims and to keep an eye on things after all the press coverage cools down. One thing that surprised me was a ? from reporter asking about the chemical make up of the foam they were using. IL EPA site director said he didn't know and that they were waiting for the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) they had 3 tractor trailers there I am sure had totes of foam in them that they were mixing with water and spraying it on fire with pumps that spray 600 gpm. It was my understanding that the MSDS was supposed to be with the manifests of the loads. Incompetent ? Violation ? I don't know but I sure hope they keep it out of the river my favorite Walleye hole is about 2 mi down stream! Kurt