Red Cross Sets Up Shelter For Residents As Fire Burns In Morris

MORRIIS, IL — Red Cross volunteers are on the ground supporting first responders battling an industrial fire in Morris that required over 5,000 residents to be evacuated Tuesday. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has called up the Illinois National Guard's civil support time to assist in Morris.

The fire was first called in early Tuesday afternoon at a former paper factory now being used to store hundreds of thousands of lithium batteries. A request went out for as much foam as possible. This is Illinois’s second dangerous industrial fire this month.

>>> 180 Tons Of Lithium Batteries Inside Industrial Fire In Morris

The building is housing an estimated 180,000 to 200,000 pounds of lithium by a company that makes batteries. Due to lithium’s volatile nature when it gets wet, fire officials decided to let the fire burn out on its own. Fire officials made the call to let the fire burn out and expect to still be onsite Wednesday.

Volunteers are providing food and water to more than 300 emergency personnel. The Red Cross has also set up an overnight shelter for evacuated residents, where volunteers are providing meals, snacks, water and other disaster services.

Anyone who needs a safe place to stay due to the industrial fire evacuation is encouraged to come by First Christian Church, 455 W. Southmor Road, Morris. Masks are required at the shelter. Anyone impacted by this fire, may call the Illinois Red Cross 24/7 disaster hotline: 1-877-597-0747.