Wapella ag warehouse burns to the ground

WAPELLA, Ill. (WAND) - A warehouse belonging to an ag company in Wapella caught fire and burned to the ground on Monday.

Several fire departments were called out to the Evergreen FS along Highway 51 in the 300 block of N. Chestnut St. late Monday morning.

Flames and huge plumes of black smoke could be seen coming from the plant in pictures and videos sent to WAND News.

Jacob Short, who lives across the road from the facility, said the building burned to the ground.

A WAND crew on scene reported that Highway 51 was shut down but has since reopened.

The DeWitt County Emergency Management Agency told WAND News that the fire destroyed a storage building that contained some seed, two John Deere machines and a sprayer, which was removed from the building before the fire got out of control.

DeWitt County EMA added that the environmental impact was limited to just the black smoke, with no chemical components or fertilizer impacting the grass or nearby water sources.

WAND News has reached out to other fire officials for information, but haven't heard back.

According to the company's website, Evergreen is an agriculture co-op that serves several counties. It helps with agronomy, seed, fertilizer, precision farming and other items. It's headquartered in Bloomington.

The company started in 1926 as McClean County Service Company but changed its name when it merged with Woodford FS in 2000.

Decatur teen hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself in foot

Person killed in shooting at Decatur park identified

Arrest made after shots fired outside Rantoul Walmart