By Erika Hernandez
An explosion at a chemical plant in Illinois caused a magnesium fireleft two employees injured and activated an extensive hazardous materials operation. Authorities are investigating a possible equipment failure as the cause of the incident.
The incident occurred Tuesday morning shortly before 8:00 a.m. at a Coogee Chemical facility, located in Ottawa, a town southwest of Chicago, according to a news release from the fire department.
Possible technical failure and magnesium fire
The first investigations point to a equipment failure during a magnesium transfer process to a storage container.
According to the local fire department, a malfunction in oxygen sensors would have allowed an increase in the levels of this gas, which generated a reaction with magnesium and caused the explosion.
The resulting fire was highly dangerous, since magnesium cannot be extinguished with water, because it intensifies the reaction.
The two injured workers were taken to a nearby hospital.
One of them was rescued inside the structure by emergency teams, while the second managed to evacuate on their own to an adjacent building.
Authorities have not specified the severity of the injuries.
Subsequently, it was confirmed that everything inside the plant was located and made safe.
Fire administration and safety measures
The fire was controlled approximately 15 minutes after it started.through the use of specialized dry chemical agents.
As a preventive measure, authorities ordered a temporary confinement for workers in nearby areas and closed an adjacent road.
Hazardous materials teams participated in decontamination efforts both at the site and at the health center that received the injured.
Operations at the plant have been suspended while investigations continue.
The Illinois Occupational Safety and Proper Administration participates in the evaluation of the incident to determine liability and prevent future events.
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