Firefighters from multiple departments battled a massive four-alarm fire that erupted at an Illinois chemical plant Monday, injuring a firefighter and forcing an evacuation around a 1-mile radius of the facility because of possible toxic materials released in the air.
The fire broke out around 7 a.m. at the Chemtool plant in Rockton, WIFR-TV reports. Aerial footage from the scene showed thick smoke and flames issuing from the facility, and witnesses reported hearing small explosions as the fire burned.
In a statement, the company said that all of its employees at the plant reached safety, and a mandatory evacuation was ordered for a mile around the plant as a precaution in case hazardous chemicals threatened the area.
"Our concern right now is for the safety of all our employees and the surrounding community," Chemtool stated.
“We do not yet know what caused this incident, but we will be working with local authorities and with our own risk management team to determine what happened and identify any corrective actions," the company added.
One firefighter was injured during the blaze and taken to the hospital, the Chicago Tribune reports. The injuries were considered minor.
According to the National Weather Service, the blaze was large enough that it appeared on radar. An airline passenger traveling from Wisconsin to Chicago also was able to clearly photograph the billowing black smoke cloud from the sky.
The Chemtool plant manufactures fluids, lubricants and grease products.
