A fire broke out at a Carus Chemical plant in LaSalle, Illinois, on Wednesday morning, following an explosion that sent dark smoke into the air, according to local officials and reports.
LaSalle Mayor Jeff Grove’s Facebook page said the city is monitoring the fire at the plant “for more information.” No details were immediately available on the cause of the fire.
There were reports of an explosion being heard at the plant around 9 a.m. local time, the News Tribune reported.
Workers at Carus Chemical were evacuated and residents of nearby Wards 3 and 4 were asked to shelter in place, the newspaper reported.
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A fire broke out after a reported explosion at Carus Chemical in LaSalle, Illinois on Wednesday.
(FOX32 Chicago WFLD)
LaSalle Fire Chief Jerry Janick asked the public to avoid the area while firefighters work to extinguish the fire.
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“Additional code red calls will be made as new information is obtained,” the fire marshal said in the alert obtained by the outlet.
LaSalle police said first responders released an oxidizer, which appears green, into the area because of the fire and asked residents to avoid touching the substance. If citizens find the substance near their residence, police said it could be deactivated with a 1:1:1 mixture of water, peroxide and vinegar.
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Carus Chemical produces chemicals to treat drinking water, according to the company’s website.
