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Fire Destroys Tremont Concrete Plant

Tremont Fire Department
/
Peoria Public Radio

Illini Concrete Products in Tremont was destroyed yesterday in a fire and subsequent explosions. Peoria Public Radio’s Tanya Koonce reports the fire call came in about 12:30.

Tremont Fire Chief Jim Lonergran says one of the workers discovered the fire. He says by the time they were on-scene, the building furthest from the road was collapsed and two of the buildings were fully involved.

After the fire at Illini Concrete Products in Tremont.

“The ceilings inside these buildings were collapsing when we arrived so we could not do any interior attack on them. This fire had too much of a head start to fight from the inside. Outside is our only option and with a metal building you just can’t get to any fire to stop it.” Lonergran says the Polystyrene foam sheets, concrete additives and Oxygen cylinders inside the building also fed the fire.

No one was injured. Nine other Tazewell County Fire Departments lent mutual aid.

Illini Concrete Company opened at that site in 2008 and has an estimated 15 employees. Various business websites indicate the company has $1.1 million annual revenue.