The Danville Fire Department was one of the numerous departments that responded to the deadly accident and chemical leak in Teutopolis. Several vehicles crashed Friday evening, including a truck carrying thousands of gallons of anhydrous ammonia. The ammonia started leaking out of the trailer and evaporated into a toxic plume of gas. The plume of anhydrous ammonia expanded and was carried by the wind toward Teutopolis.

Five people, including two children, died at the scene and five others were airlifted from the scene, seriously hurt. Everyone within a one-mile radius of the scene, including half of Teutopolis, had to be evacuated. Emergency crews walked up and down the roads and through houses, decked out in full gear and gas masks, helping people escape the gas.

Danville Fire officials confirmed its HAZMAT team was on scene for a while. Officials said they remain ready to respond again if requested. Firefighters from across Central Illinois spent many hours at the scene to stop the leak and clean up the toxic plume of gas. A team from the National Transportation Safety Board is coming to Teutopolis to assess the damage and investigate the accident.