Big chemical plant fire west of Wyanet

Roads were backed up for a mile in all directions Saturday morning following a chemical fire west of Wyanet. The report came in just after 6 am of an explosion at the Euclid chemical plant just south of Interstate 80 along Route 40. Fire departments from across Bureau County battled the blaze, but eventually decided it was better to let the fire to burn itself out. Route 40 was closed from the Route 6 intersection north to I-80. County officials warned residents immediately east of the area and Wyanet residents to stay indoors and keep their windows and doors closed until the fire was finished. The notice did not apply to Princeton residents. The Shadows of the Blue and Gray and Nightmare on Fairgrounds Road events will go on as scheduled. No injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Officials were awaiting assessments from the state and federal EPA on possible environmental hazards.