Illinois town evacuates after chemical plant explodes

SEWARD, Ill. — An entire Illinois town had to evacuate when a chemical processing plant exploded and went up in flames.

Anyone living within two miles of Seward, Illinois had to take refuge in a high school outside the danger zone.

The main warehouse that stores the chemicals is smoldering but there is a second building still burning, and firefighters' hands are tied because they cannot use water on the chemicals inside.

"They have tanks with chlorine gas in them and if they were to rupture we want to make sure that the public in the immediate area was evacuated so the chlorine gas would not be a hazard to them," said Deputy Fire Chief Mike Knoup.

The EPA has been called to evaluate the situation and the Red Cross is there helping displaced families.