Blast rips West Side plant; 2 seriously hurt


Crews inspect the site of an explosion at a West Side plant. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)

At least two people were seriously injured in a "massive explosion" that tore through a commercial biodiesel and vegetable oil plant on the West Side, authorities said.

The two victims were taken to Stroger Hospital, one in serious to critical condition and other in fair to serious condition, a Fire Department spokesman said. Other workers were being decontaminated on-scene following the explosion, said Fire Department spokesman Quention Curtis.

Another 10 people complained of illness because of fumes, possibly because of the explosion, at a nearby Metra yard in the 2900 block of Grand Avenue, and were being taken to area hospitals in good to fair condition, a Fire Department spokesman said.

The explosion also disrupted Metra's Milwaukee District North and West Lines, halting some trains and delaying others, according to the rail company's Web site.

A hazardous materials alarm was canceled about 10:15 a.m., although police continued to shut down all streets in the area within two blocks of the explosion. But there appeared to be no danger to residents of nearby condos and two-flats. They had not been ordered to evacuated and were milling in the street.

The blast occurred as chemicals were being mixed and a truck was being unloaded in the plant a little after 9 a.m. at the plant located in the 800 block of North Albany Avenue. The address is listed to Columbus Foods Co.

The 100-foot-by-100-foot building where the explosion happened handles between 20,000 and 40,000 pounds of biodiesel fuel each day, said Fire Department spokesman Will Knight. The building was partially collapsed by the explosion, he said.

Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford described the explosion as "massive."

Laura Hampton had just finished jogging in Humboldt Park when she heard the explosion and saw area apartment buildings shake. "I thought a semi had run into a building or something."

She said she smelled a strong odor of sulfur, but said it dissipated after a few minutes.

Sulfuric acid is used in the work done at the plant, and may have been involved in the explosion, Curtis said. A chemical cloud rose from the explosion, and area buildings were evacuated and streets blocked off, he said.

Five ambulances and hazardous materials team were initially called to the scene. A hazardous materials response was declared under control by about 10:15 a.m., but fire officials remained on scene, Knight said.