A massive chemical fire erupted Monday at a plant in Rockton, Illinois, prompting authorities to order residents to evacuate and Gov. J. B. Pritzker (D) to activate the National Guard.

NBC Chicago reports:

The fire, which forced the evacuation of residents within a two mile radius of the Chemtool lubricant manufacturing facility in Rockton, could potentially burn for days, according to officials. Pritzker announced Monday that personnel from a slew of state agencies and departments, including the Illinois Emergency Management Association, State Police, the Illinois National Guard and the Department of Public Health, have been activated and are participating in the response to the fire. […] According to officials, the fire broke out just before 7 a.m. Chemtool, according to state officials, is the largest manufacturer of grease in the United States.

WHOA… this may take a long while… An absolutely MASSIVE fire is raging at Chemtool in Rockton, Illinois, one of the largest grease manufacturers in the US | https://t.co/9qsEPLTQue via @13WREX pic.twitter.com/ihpvpKvWgz

— Evan Schreiber (@SchreiberEvan) June 14, 2021

MASSIVE EXPLOSION seen at Rockton, IL's Chemtool plant. (Courtesy: WLS). LATEST: https://t.co/RGYxyJ8k2e pic.twitter.com/AtehTezor8

— Eyewitness News WTVO/WQRF (@MyStateline) June 14, 2021

And here it is as we head to Rockton. We’re about 36 miles out now. Very visible. pic.twitter.com/81Bn8Gg9Aj

— CHRIS HUSH (@ChrisHushNBC) June 14, 2021

And 19 miles out… pic.twitter.com/IEtesRodSr

— CHRIS HUSH (@ChrisHushNBC) June 14, 2021

(Read more from “Illinois: Massive Chemical Fire at Chemtool Plant Prompts Evacuations, National Guard Activated” HERE)