Major Fire in Ethanol Processing Plant in Hennepin, Illinois
Hennepin, Granville, and Bureau firefighters responded about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday April 10, 2019 to a major fire at the Marquis Energy ethanol plant at 11953 Prairie Industrial Parkway, Hennepin, Illinois. Hennepin is located about 95 miles southwest of downtown Chicago and about 11 miles west of Interstate 39 near the Illinois River
A MABAS Division 57 Second Alarm was activated at 3:25 p.m. and the response was elevated to a fifth alarm at 3:40 p.m. The fire is reported to be involved on multiple levels in a building at the ethanol processing plant.
Standard Princeton, McNabb firefighters were also dispatched. The staging area is at the front gate.
Ambulances from Oglesby and Spring Valley were dispatched to the scene and Princeton ambulances were dispatched to standby at the Granville station.
Marquis Energy produces about 1 million gallons of fuel grade ethanol per day, and is the largest dry-mill biofuels production facility in the United States according to their website.
The company has its own fire and rescue team made up of firefighters that also served as volunteer firefighters at fire departments nearby.
A Wind Advisory is in effect at the scene of the fire and winds were observed from the East 26 MPH G 33 MPH at 3:55 p.m. at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport about 10 miles northeast of the fire scene.
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