ROCKTON, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A chemical plant fire in Rockton, north of Rockford, will be burning for several days, and people within a mile of the plant remain evacuated from their homes.
Anyone who saw the ball of fire that erupted from the Chemtool plant may have wondered how many people were injured or worse. But, according to the fire department, no employees nor area residents were injured.
Fire Chief Kirk Wilson said the initial assessment was that there is no danger to air quality on the ground, although more thorough testing is being done by both the U.S. and Illinois EPAs.
On Tuesday, officials said an evacuation order for those who live within a mile of the plant remains, and people who live within three miles of the plant are urged to wear masks when outside.
"We ask the public that is not supposed to be in this area to refrain from coming in to the area. Remember, we are in a life safety active fire zone," said Winnebago County Public Health Administrator Sandra Martell.
Rockton resident Eric Ross told CBS 2 he’s concerned about what’s being spread through the air in the huge thick smoke.
"We don’t know what was there. We don’t know, you know, where it’s going. I know that there’s been debris and anything that’s blowing in the air could be a concern," he said.
Because the chemical plant is less than a thousand feet from the Rock River, firefighters have stopped pouring water on the fire out of concern for the environment and the possibility of chemical runoff into the water.
On the Rockton Facebook page, officials urge people to do their part in helping to fight the fire by holding off any unnecessary use of water, including for landscaping.
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