SIUE chemistry chair weighs in on Sauget hazardous chemical fire
Posted August 25, 2026
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Dr. Eric Voss, Chair of the Department of Chemistry, provided expert insight for a First Alert 4 investigation into the chemical fire that prompted a shelter-in-place order in Sauget, Illinois. The fire, which broke out at a Container Port Group shipping container facility, involved trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), a compound commonly used to kill bacteria and algae in swimming pools and for bleaching, cleaning, and sanitizing purposes.
Voss explained that while fires generally release dangerous chemicals, the chlorine gas produced by TCCA reacting with water posed a particular hazard. He noted that once the resulting plume dissipates into the environment, it is not likely to have lasting impacts, though sheltering in place remained essential to limit public exposure while the plume was active. Voss drew a comparison to a 2020 incident in Louisiana, where TCCA contributed to a much larger fire and plume after a hurricane damaged a chemical facility.
Watch more: First Alert 4 (KMOV)
