A spokesperson at the Carus Chemical Plant in LaSalle reports a chemical used in drinking water was released into surrounding neighborhoods following an explosion and fire at the company's site on 8th Street in LaSalle Wednesday.  The chemical is called potassium permanganate. The company says that that stains from the chemical can be cleaned up with a one-to-one mixture of household vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.

LaSalle city officialos said no one was hurt in the blaze that caused a massive plume of smoke to billow from the facility for several hours. Nearby residents were told to shelter-in-place.  That shelter order has been lifted.  There was no order to evacuate.

The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating. Air quality is also being monitored. Carus Chemical has setup a hotline for concerned residents at 815-224-6662.

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