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Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin battle an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021 in Rockton. The chemical fire at the plant, which produces lubricants, grease products and other fluids, has prompted local evacuations.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin battle an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021 in Rockton. The chemical fire at the plant, which produces lubricants, grease products and other fluids, has prompted local evacuations.

Rockton chemical plant fire

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A protective water boom floats in the Rock River at the Union Street bridge on June 15, 2021, in Rockton. Smoke rose for the second day from burning chemicals at the Chemtool facility.
A protective water boom floats in the Rock River at the Union Street bridge on June 15, 2021, in Rockton. Smoke rose for the second day from burning chemicals at the Chemtool facility.
Smoke from the Chemtool industrial fire rises in the background along Nazarene Drive on June 15, 2021, in Rockton, Ill., creating a haze over a neighborhood.
Smoke from the Chemtool industrial fire rises in the background along Nazarene Drive on June 15, 2021, in Rockton, Ill., creating a haze over a neighborhood.
Norm and Kay Alpers prepare to leave their home on Warren Street on June 15, 2021, in Rockton because of the evacuation order due to smoke fumes from the Chemtool industrial fire blocks from their home.
Norm and Kay Alpers prepare to leave their home on Warren Street on June 15, 2021, in Rockton because of the evacuation order due to smoke fumes from the Chemtool industrial fire blocks from their home.
In this satellite image provided by Planet Labs Inc., a huge plume of smoke and fire can be seen at the Chemtool Inc. plant near Rockton, Ill., on June 14, 2021. A private firefighting company from Louisiana was expected to begin pumping fire-suppressing foam on June 15 onto the still-burning ruins of a northern Illinois chemical plant, a day after it was rocked by an explosion and massive fires, officials said.
In this satellite image provided by Planet Labs Inc., a huge plume of smoke and fire can be seen at the Chemtool Inc. plant near Rockton, Ill., on June 14, 2021. A private firefighting company from Louisiana was expected to begin pumping fire-suppressing foam on June 15 onto the still-burning ruins of a northern Illinois chemical plant, a day after it was rocked by an explosion and massive fires, officials said.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin battle an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021 in Rockton. The chemical fire at the plant, which produces lubricants, grease products and other fluids, has prompted local evacuations.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin battle an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021 in Rockton. The chemical fire at the plant, which produces lubricants, grease products and other fluids, has prompted local evacuations.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin fill their tanker trucks as they continue a daylong battle to extinguish the industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin fill their tanker trucks as they continue a daylong battle to extinguish the industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin battle an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin battle an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin battle an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin battle an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin fill their tanker trucks with river water as they continue a daylong battle to extinguish the industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton.
Firefighters from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin fill their tanker trucks with river water as they continue a daylong battle to extinguish the industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton.
Smoke billows from an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton, Illinois.
Smoke billows from an industrial fire at Chemtool Inc. on June 14, 2021, in Rockton, Illinois.
The Chemtool Inc. chemical fire can be seen burning from the town of Belvidere on June 14, 2021, as motorists travel on westbound Interstate 90.
The Chemtool Inc. chemical fire can be seen burning from the town of Belvidere on June 14, 2021, as motorists travel on westbound Interstate 90.
Less than a dozen people gather in the gym at Roscoe Middle School, the evacuation site for those who live within a mile of the Chemtool Inc. chemical fire on June 14, 2021, in Roscoe.
Less than a dozen people gather in the gym at Roscoe Middle School, the evacuation site for those who live within a mile of the Chemtool Inc. chemical fire on June 14, 2021, in Roscoe.
Brent Paun sits on the bleachers in the gym at Roscoe Middle School, the evacuation site for those who live within a mile of the Chemtool Inc. chemical fire, on June 14, 2021, in Roscoe. He evacuated his home following alerts about the chemical fire burning near his home.
Brent Paun sits on the bleachers in the gym at Roscoe Middle School, the evacuation site for those who live within a mile of the Chemtool Inc. chemical fire, on June 14, 2021, in Roscoe. He evacuated his home following alerts about the chemical fire burning near his home.
Spice the cat is the lone animal taking refuge in the gym at Roscoe Middle School, the evacuation site for those who live within a mile of the Chemtool Inc. chemical fire, on June 14, 2021, in Roscoe. Spice was there with owner Amanda Spaine.
Spice the cat is the lone animal taking refuge in the gym at Roscoe Middle School, the evacuation site for those who live within a mile of the Chemtool Inc. chemical fire, on June 14, 2021, in Roscoe. Spice was there with owner Amanda Spaine.
Jessica King stands in her backyard in South Beloit on June 14, 2021, and watches a chemical fire burn at a Chemtool Inc. factory. “It looks worse now than this morning when it started,” King said.
A chemical fire at the Chemtool Inc. factory burns June 14, 2021, seen from South Beloit.
A chemical fire at the Chemtool Inc. factory burns June 14, 2021, seen from South Beloit.
Neal Nuber, of South Beloit, watches a chemical fire June 14, 2021, at the Chemtool Inc. factory from the J. Norman Jensen Forest Preserve.
Neal Nuber, of South Beloit, watches a chemical fire June 14, 2021, at the Chemtool Inc. factory from the J. Norman Jensen Forest Preserve.
A chemical fire at the Chemtool factory in Rockton on June 14, 2021, as seen from South Beloit.
A chemical fire at the Chemtool factory in Rockton on June 14, 2021, as seen from South Beloit.
A giant chemical plant fire burns out of control in Rockton, Illinois, on June 14, 2021.
A giant chemical plant fire burns out of control in Rockton, Illinois, on June 14, 2021.
A giant chemical plant fire in Rockton, Illinois, is seen from an airplane in a photo taken by Michael Leto as he flew from Madison, Wisconsin, to Chicago on June 14, 2021.
A giant chemical plant fire in Rockton, Illinois, is seen from an airplane in a photo taken by Michael Leto as he flew from Madison, Wisconsin, to Chicago on June 14, 2021.

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