UPDATE: 9/14/2017 3:36 p.m.
On Thursday, ATF ruled the fire accidental, but they are still investigating the cause of the blaze.
ORIGINAL: 9/13/2017 8:54 a.m.
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. -- Lee's Summit fire officials have requested the help of the ATF after a Wednesday morning fire at chemical manufacturing company.
About 60 workers had to be evacuated at about 8 a.m. from CK Enterprise 1204 Southwest Jefferson Street as firefighter rushed to put out the raging blaze.
"Everything at this point is still undetermined. We are still trying to gather as much information as possible," said Assistant Fire Chief Jim Eden.
The Lee's Summit business works with chemicals. Assistant Fire Chief Jim Eden says workers were handling 6,000-gallon containers.
"It is our understand at the time, they were transferring a winterizing diesel fuel additive out of one tank on the outside of the building to a tank on the inside of the building," said Eden.
That's when the chemical ignited. Plumes of thick smoke could be seen for miles. Nine containers had the chemical inside; six were completely damaged and the other three were burned.
Lee's Summit Assistant Fire Chief Eden said the department is calling in the ATF for assistance. He said this doesn't mean they think it was criminal activity. Eden said the ATF has resources that the Lee's Summit Fire Department doesn't have.
UPDATE: workers were transporting a chemical that's when the fire ignited. 9 containers with chemical inside were damaged. @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/BsUYLs7ojY
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialTV) September 13, 2017
The Lee's Summit FD is calling in the AFT for additional resources. Assistant chief says this doesn't mean "criminal activity" @41actionnews
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialTV) September 13, 2017
The fire at CK Enterprise started from a additive igniting. One person was injured. Multiple chemicals were on site. @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/FBDs9MOTP2
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialTV) September 13, 2017
Officials said there are schools in the area that were alerted of the fire, but they didn't evacuate.
Summit Christian Academy is half a mile from the site. Officials could see plumes of black smoke starting as early as 8:10 a.m.
"So, I was actually going to a meeting, and I kinda got to see it first hand. I got to see it right after it happened. It was alarming. I instantly called over to the school to let them know and it was quite a big fire. We hope everyone is safe and are praying for them," said Sarah Coats, Director of Development at Summit Christian Academy.
She said they notified the parents of all 800 students by text message to let them know what was going on.
The fire department gave the all clear around 10:30 a.m. That's when the school decided to have outdoor recess.
About a mile away are the Pleasant Lea Elementary and Middle Schools. Their school officials said they were monitoring the situation with the fire department. They have also decided to have outdoor recess.
CK Enterprises Inc. manufacturers and supply more than 700 chemical products for the car care industry, products for manufacturing, transportation, and food processing industry, according to their website.
Their facility is 80,000 square feet.
Video of fire south of downtown Lee's Summit. Still appears to be going strong. pic.twitter.com/pMNfO5IvxT
— Bert Lightle (@KCBrewExplorer) September 13, 2017
Lees Summit fire @KCMOFireDept Hazmat crew arrived to offer aid to @LeesSummitFire @41actionnews pic.twitter.com/kcS7n8MPer
— Matthew Reeb (@MDReeb) September 13, 2017
Structure fire in Lee's Summit. @41actionnews @KCTV5 @kmbc pic.twitter.com/vVbtuglQ70
— Bert Lightle (@KCBrewExplorer) September 13, 2017
