Chemical plant unit shut down pending fire probe

A judge says a Chicago-area chemical company can’t restart a manufacturing unit involved in an explosion and fire until it figures out what happened.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says the Cook County judge on Tuesday granted a preliminary injunction against Blue Island Phenol in South suburban Alsip. It requires the company to investigate the cause of the Dec. 13 explosion and fire that injured two workers and identify corrective measures.

Madigan says the company also must investigate potential soil and groundwater contamination caused by the runoff of water used to extinguish the fire, and dispose of asbestos-containing material affected by the fire.

The company must report its findings to Madigan’s office and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

A telephone message left Tuesday for the plant manager was not immediately returned.