A large fire broke out Wednesday night at a magnesium factory in Dixmoor, causing significant damage to the facility, officials said.
Crews were at the scene Thursday to assess the damage, ensure no new fires sparked and monitor air quality.
Most of the damage was visible at the back of the Chicago Magnesium Casting Co., 14101 Seeley Ave. Nicor Gas crews were on site and warned an unstable wall in the back of the facility posed a safety hazard and is at risk of collapse.
Chicago Magnesium was founded in 1953 as an aluminum and sand casting foundry specializing in aerospace, according to the company’s website. The company produces castings for helicopters, jet fighters, jumbo transports and regional jets, serving both military and commercial sectors, the website states.
Magnesium is highly flammable and can ignite easily under certain conditions, making it challenging for crews to control the blaze, crews said.
The Blue Island Fire Department, along with several neighboring departments, responded to the fire early Thursday morning, according to a Facebook post from the city of Blue Island. The post, made about 8 a.m., said there were no injuries and the fire had been contained.
At the factory, managers at Chicago Magnesium were evaluating the damage but declined to comment until the full extent was assessed.
None of the company’s employees was on-site during the fire, Chicago Magnesium said in a Facebook post.
“While we do not have all the answers yet, we are committed to providing updates and transparent communication as we navigate this challenging situation,” the company wrote. “We are actively working with the relevant authorities and agencies to ensure that this tragedy causes as little disruption as possible to our employees, customers and the local community.”
Jeff Wawczack, an on-scene coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said three air quality monitors were set up and crews were on the scene all morning to test the air.
Wawczack said the air quality has remained within acceptable or safe levels, without any dangerous levels of pollutants, as of Thursday afternoon.
Dixmoor Mayor Fitzgerald Roberts said there were multiple explosions caused by the fire that rocked nearby homes.
“This was a dangerous fire but thanks to the courage and capable work of the Posen Fire Department, there was no loss of life,” Roberts said in a news release. “This could have been a much worse situation especially in light of the fact that a train was blocking access for firefighters to reach the fire.”
Roberts said the fire highlights the importance of replacing aging water pipes, as the pressure from fighting the fire caused water main breaks across from the magnesium plant and another break on 139th Street.
“Having access to a reliable and stable water supply not only is important for everyday life, but it also is extremely important in the event of emergencies like the one we had last night,” Roberts said. “The need to continue the work we are doing to fix our water pipes really is a matter of life and death.”
smoilanen@chicagotribune.com
