Kankakee County, IL – After the power outage at the BP Whiting Refinery in Indiana, a strong gas odor has been reported as far south as Kankakee County, Illinois. This follows earlier reports of unusual odors last week in nearby communities, including Lansing and Monee, attributed to the refinery’s emergency measures involving burning off fuel.
The Lake County Alert System has reassured the public that the activated flares at the refinery are effective and pose no public danger. Similarly, the Lansing Police Department has described the smell in their area as a nuisance without any indication of danger. The Monee Fire Department has also informed residents about the possibility of noticing a haze and the smell of crude oil due to the refinery’s burn off process.
KanComm, the communication center for Kankakee County, has acknowledged the widespread reach of the odor, fielding numerous calls related to it. However, they have emphasized that no dangers have been reported so far. The situation is being closely monitored, with updates to be provided as necessary. Experts have indicated that it could take up to a week for the BP Whiting Refinery to become fully operational following this incident.
