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T-Man 1066
06-15-2021, 06:28 PM
Thought this would be an appropriate post.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/illinois-chemical-plant-fire-rockton-mandatory-evacuations

T-Woman 1066, T-Son 1066, and I live exactly 1 mile from this mess. Chemtool plant went up right about 7AM yesterday. These pics are from my back yard and the street entering our neighborhood.

Very much a oh-sheit moment, not knowing exactly what was going to happen. Most explosions that I could hear were likely 55 gallon drums, or forklift propane cylinders. Some were huge. I stopped counting after 70 explosions.

Gentlemen, this is why having a bug out bag is important. We had time to get out, as we were on the fringe of the evacuation area, about 1 mile, and the wind was blowing south, and we live east. But still pretty wild time. Short term concerns were pets, and potential looters. Haven't heard much about looting, but always an opportunity for hood rats. (We are near Rockford, IL). Long term concerns are the river, about 125 yards from the plant, and groundwater contamination. They are letting about 1/2 million gallons of oil and other chemicals burn. We are on a well. Time to self educate on water testing.

Problem is my BOL is only 8 miles away, likely if our home well gets contaminated the BOL well will also, as I am sure its on the same aquafier. Other big concern was fire, as we have been in a drought, and brown grass and hot embers traving miles and miles don't end well. It was a 47 alarm fire, with FD's from 75 miles away attending the party.

We are doing fine, but this was a bad deal for sure.

1571115712

Sparkyprep
06-15-2021, 07:13 PM
Stay safe out there. Maybe re-think your BOL, to something a little further away.

red442joe
06-15-2021, 08:30 PM
Damn! Good luck.
Chemtool? As in Berrymans B-12 Chemtool?

Joe

Piratesailor
06-15-2021, 09:16 PM
Wow. Hope you and the family are safe.

T-Man 1066
06-15-2021, 10:04 PM
So far so good. Still fire crews on the scene. National Guard, EPA, ISP. They will supposedly monitor air quality, well water, and river contamination. Most local businesses in Rockton were closed. Seen on a map that the smoke plume could be seen from outer space.

hawgrider
06-15-2021, 10:17 PM
Yikes close call right there! Glad Y'all are OK!

1skrewsloose
06-15-2021, 10:18 PM
I just did a quickie search on aquifers, most major ones are 50 square miles in area. Holy crap!!! If all that water has gone bad its almost like being nuked!!

Didn't look for how long if ever it would take for the water to be usable.

Glad you and yours are safe.

BucketBack
06-15-2021, 10:25 PM
That is a SHTF deal for sure

1skrewsloose
06-15-2021, 10:39 PM
Wow!! Just checked, my bud for 45 years and his wife live in Beloit, 4 miles away!!

Gonna send a message tonite and call him in the morn.

T-Man 1066
06-15-2021, 10:51 PM
Wow!! Just checked, my bud for 45 years and his wife live in Beloit, 4 miles away!!

Gonna send a message tonite and call him in the morn.

Yep thats close, Beloit WI is only about 2 miles. Im right on the edge between Rockton and So. Beloit, IL.

You guys might want to check your stocks on engine oil, hydraulic fluid, grease, etc. Chemtool is supposedly the biggest producer in the Americas of grease and lubrication products. A Berkshire Hathaway Co, thanks W Buffet. Hope no corners were cut in the name of next quarter profits...

Prepared One
06-16-2021, 06:54 AM
I saw a blurb about this on one of the news stations. Hope you and yours are safe T-Man 1066. See if you can find out more about their containment systems. Here on the gulf coast we have a lot of refineries and occasionally they go boom. It's all about the containment systems as far as groundwater contamination goes. I would have my well tested for sure but I am betting it will be ok.

T-Man 1066
06-16-2021, 05:45 PM
I sure hope so. They did contract some industrial hazard group from Louisiana to dig ditches and work on watershed containment. They have bank to bank containment buoys at multiple points along the river. It is still burning, about 60 hrs at this point.

Only time will tell.

And thanks for the concern and well wishes. Its better to watch on a YT video than watch several hundred foot fireballs from your backyard. Just sayin...

1skrewsloose
06-17-2021, 07:07 AM
Talked to my bud, he's about 7 miles away and the wind is pushing the smoke south and west so he feels he's OK. Private well so he should be good to go.

They're telling folks to wear a mask, what a joke! Then in almost the same breath say the air quality is not affected.!? How the hell could it not be.

T-Man 1066
06-17-2021, 07:10 PM
Talked to my bud, he's about 7 miles away and the wind is pushing the smoke south and west so he feels he's OK. Private well so he should be good to go.

They're telling folks to wear a mask, what a joke! Then in almost the same breath say the air quality is not affected.!? How the hell could it not be.

Exactly! Thought the same thing. "Ground level air quality is perfectly fine, but wear a mask within a 3 mile radius".

Well I got 2 words for you, and they ain't Happy Birthday!