LaSalle chemical plant fire’s cause still a mystery

LASALLE (25 News Now) - Three weeks have passed since the fire at the Carus chemical plant in LaSalle, and the company still does not know what caused the fire.

The state fire marshal listed the cause of the Jan. 11 fire as undetermined after a preliminary investigation, and there was no evidence of suspicious activity, the company said in a news release.

“It’s important that we all understand how this fire started. We have engaged a third-party consultant who specializes in root cause analysis for these types of incidents. said Carus Vice President of Operations Allen Gibbs in a prepared statement.

“They are conducting a thorough investigation of the fire and we expect preliminary results in the coming weeks,” said Gibbs.

The potassium permanganate that was released into the environment did not pose a health threat, but residents of the 3rd and 4th wards in LaSalle were advised to shelter-in-place for many hours.

Potassium permanganate is an oxidant used for water treatment. Carus said it has been producing potassium permanganate for over 100 years.

Since the fire, Carus said it has been working with neighbors on cleanup efforts, and its community hotline has served 240 residents. Many of those residents reported property damage from the fire, the company said.

Last week, Carus said it launched a hotline to speed up property assessments and insurance claims for area homeowners. Residents are asked to call the hotline at 815-224-6662. More information is available on Carus’ website.