Mattoon, IL, Firefighters Stop Flames from Reaching Hazmat Tanks
Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Ill.
(TNS)
Dec. 17—MATTOON — Firefighters spent hours Tuesday battling a blaze at a branch of a Jacksonville-based gas product company.
Mattoon Fire Department responded to a call around 6:15 p.m. of a structure fire with explosions at ILMO Products Co., 4112 Lake Land Blvd. Department records indicated that upon arrival at 6:21 p.m., crews found a 100- by 50-foot pole-style building fully involved in fire. Prior to arrival, a glow at the site was visible from over a mile away, according to reports.
Firefighters spent hours extinguishing the fire, dumping thousands of gallons of water a minute on the blaze and closing Illinois Route 41 and County Highway 13 to traffic. The department received assistance from the fire departments and fire protection districts of Charleston, Lincoln, Wabash, Humboldt, Cooks Mills and Neoga.
Crews also had to create plans for evacuation in case of toxic smoke from hazardous materials burning getting blown into nearby communities. Anhydrous ammonia was the primary gas of concern at the fire, requiring an evacuation distance of one mile. Other hazardous materials monitored at the fire had evacuations distances of 650 feet or less.
The wind, blowing out of the southwest at 15 miles per hour, acted in firefighters' favor, pushing the smoke into a nearby farm field. Mattoon Fire Chief Jeff Hilligoss said crews did a "fabulous job" in keeping the anhydrous ammonia tanks from being involved in fire.
The fire was considered under control at 8:53 p.m., according to the department. Water shuttle services were suspended and mutual aid services were released around 9:30 p.m. At around 11:38 p.m., Mattoon firefighters cleared the scene.
No injuries were reported. The fire department requested an investigator from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall, who arrived on scene and investigated the fire. The department did not disclose a cause for the fire.
ILMO's headquarters is located at 7 Eastgate Drive in Jacksonville. The company issued a statement saying it was "incredibly grateful to the local firefighters and first responders for their swift and professional response."
Services will continue to be provided at other ILMO locations.
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