Blast at Agricultural Chemicals Plant Forces EvacuationsBlast at Agricultural Chemicals Plant Forces Evacuations

About 50 residents living near an agricultural chemicals plant in Amboy, IL were evacuated after an explosion Friday morning after storage tanks exploded at the site, officials told several local media organizations.  

Firefighters responded to the Crop Production Services plant at about 3:25 a.m., determining that the fire and explosion came from overheated fuel tanks on fork lifts parked inside of the structure, Amboy Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Garrett Gerdes told the Peoria Journal-Star. 

Due to the presence of fertilizer and pesticides at the site, those living within a three three-mile radius of the plant were ordered to evacuate the area for several hours. The fire department said in a report by television news station KWQC that no chemicals were released during the incident and that crews carried out procedures to prevent runoffs. 

Crop Production Services is a part of Nutrien Ag Solutions, a Loveland, CO-based agricultural technology firm established in 2018, according to the firm’s website. 

No injuries were logged during the incident. An investigation has been opened into the cause of the explosion.

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