Wapella fertilizer plant burns to the ground

WAPELLA, Ill. (WAND) - A fertilizer plant in Wapella caught fire and burned to the ground on Monday.

Several fire departments were called out to the Evergreen FS fertilizer plant 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 plant, said the building burned to the ground.

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

WAND News has reached out to 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.

It's not clear the type of fertilizer or what was in the building that burned. It's also unknown if anything hazardous was billowing into the air.

WAND News also reached out to the DeWitt County EMA, but hasn't heard back.

This is a developing story.

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