Two employees of Coogee Chemical in Ottawa were injured Tuesday morning when magnesium at the plant ignited, causing an explosion and fire.
The Ottawa Fire Department was dispatched to the site and located the employees. Both were transported to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Shaw Media reports one worker is in critical condition.
Because magnesium reacts violently with water, a hazardous materials team extinguished the fire using on-site dry chemical extinguishing agents. Authorities declared it under control in less than 10 minutes and secured the site.
Highway 6 was temporarily closed, and nearby businesses were told to shelter in place while the fire was being addressed.
The Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Administration assisted with the investigation and said early findings suggest the explosion may have been the result of an equipment failure during the transfer of magnesium into a storage container. The fire department said the malfunction allowed oxygen into the system, which reacted with the magnesium and caused an explosion.
Authorities said damage to the building appears minimal.
Coogee Chemical has suspended operations at the plant pending the outcome of the investigation.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent