Fire officials decide to let fire at Euclid chemical burn itself out

A fire at a chemical plant in western Bureau County has been left to burn itself out.  That was the decision by officials Sunday after meeting with the U.S. and Illinois EPA.  Officials say that will eliminate the threat of injury to fire fighters and would lessen the threat of soil and water contamination.

The fire began early Saturday morning at the Euclid Chemical plant near Sheffield.  The place was closed and no one was injured.  Heavy black smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles.  The place is considered a total loss.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Authorities say dozens of people have been injured in Chicago after a crowded commuter bus traveled off a
major thoroughfare and crashed into trees.  Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford says around 70 people
were on the Chicago Transit Authority bus when it veered off Lake Shore Drive around 6 p.m. Saturday.   The impact caved in a front side of the bus.      Langford says one person was taken to a hospital in critical condition and three in serious condition. About a dozen others were in fair to serious condition.

Burgoo Festival and others

It’s the 41St Burgoo Festival in Utica from 9 – 5pm.  It’s an annual fundraising event by the LaSalle County Historical Society.  Vendors will line Utica’s streets.  Live music through the day.  Raynette Jones, Burgoomeister, said serving of  the Burgoo Stew would commence early this year – just after 9am.  A secret ingredient has been added…brown sugar. Guess it’s not a secret anymore. 

The Shadows of the Blue and Gray event continues today in Princeton.  Re-enactors will play out roles of people who likely were in the Civil War.  Battles will be staged, as well.  It’s occuring at City-County Park north of Princeton.

Firefighters going after Euclid Chemical Fire

Firefighters are now going after the fire burning at the Euclid Chemical facility at Sheffield in Bureau County.  AM 1220 WLPO News talked with Joe Bertetto, a member of Bureau County 9-1-1.  He had been in touch with an on-site information officer earlier Sunday.  Bertetto said firefighters were going to battle the fire starting at 7am Sunday.  Bertetto lives three miles west of  the chemical plant in Sheffield but told AM 1220 WLPO news he could see no smoke until he got to the intersection of Routes 6 and 34 and Route 40.   Bertetto said a multitude of empty black plastic buckets would likely burn this morning casting off a black smoke.   Bertetto, who is also District 1 County Board rep, said residents near or down-wind of the fire should stay in-doors with windows and doors closed.