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2nd Alarm Fire plus Haz Mat Box Alarm in Cary 3-6-13
An explosion occurred at 640 Industrial Drive in Cary on Wednesday, prompting emergency responders to the scene. According to the Chicago Tribune, three people were injured after a series of blasts at a paint manufacturing warehouse in northwest suburban Cary.
Cary Police Chief Steven Casstevens reported that firefighters and police were called to Fox Valley Services around 1:15 p.m. After arriving, a second explosion happened inside the two-story building, causing part of the front brick wall to be blown off. A small hole was also found at the rear of the structure. Three workers were taken to local hospitals, with their injuries not considered life-threatening.
A hazardous materials team was deployed due to the presence of foam-dispensing units used to fight the fire at the paint facility. Witnesses like Jim Hursh, who owns Whitey’s Crane Rentals nearby, described hearing the first explosion and seeing heavy smoke coming from the building. He then heard a second blast and saw emergency vehicles rushing to the scene.
According to Veath, two of the three injured employees were taken to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, while one was airlifted to a burn center. No firefighters were hurt during the incident.
Tyler Tobolt, a local photographer, shared details about the response. The Cary Fire Department arrived around 3 p.m., encountering heavy smoke and multiple explosions. As the situation escalated, a MABAS box (a mutual aid alert) was requested, bringing additional towns to the scene. A Haz-Mat unit was also sent due to potential chemical spills.
Scott Peterson provided additional eyewitness accounts, describing the damage to the building, including a large portion of the front wall being blown out. He noted the presence of flammable tanks near the site and the evacuation of a two-block radius due to safety concerns.
Photos from Tyler Tobolt and Scott Peterson show the aftermath of the explosion, capturing the destruction and the extensive firefighting efforts. More images can be viewed online. For more details, check out the full article from The Daily Herald. Thanks to Chris for the updates.