Residents of parts of Peoria and East Peoria, Illinois, were allowed to return home Saturday afternoon after authorities lifted a one-mile evacuation order around an ethanol plant where a bomb was found Friday. No arrests had been announced as of Saturday evening, and a criminal investigation is continuing.
Peoria police lifted the order shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday, about 18 hours after it began, once local, state and federal teams finished searching the BioUrja Renewables plant at 1 Edmund Street on the city’s west side. Police said searchers found “no other items of concern at this time,” according to Yahoo News. Barricades came down and roads inside the one-mile zone reopened.
What’s new since Friday
Upstormed News reported earlier that a bomb found at the Peoria ethanol plant forced thousands to evacuate. At that point, officials did not know whether more devices were on the property and asked people to stay away until further notice.
Saturday brought the key update families were waiting for:
- The search of the plant is complete, and police said nothing else of concern was found.
- The evacuation order was lifted, and residents in South Peoria, downtown Peoria and East Peoria could go home.
- East Peoria Mayor John Kahal said businesses had resumed normal operations, according to Yahoo News.
- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Peoria “has been given the all-clear” and thanked law enforcement, NTD reported.
How it unfolded
The emergency began Friday afternoon when the plant received a bomb threat and a suspicious package was found on the grounds. Police ordered evacuations just after 7 p.m. Friday. Bomb technicians made the device safe shortly after 9 p.m., according to FBI Special Agent Ryan Presley, Patch reported.
Peoria Mayor Rita Ali described the device as an actual explosive. Police Chief Brad Dixon said investigators are still working out what it contained and declined to share further details. He also said the size of the evacuation zone reflected the large volume of ethanol stored at the plant, not the expected power of one device.
Searching the site took time. The facility is larger than 44 football fields and has multiple floors, catwalks and silos, and about 30 people worked the area, according to Yahoo News. Displaced residents were offered shelter at Manual Academy in Peoria and the EastSide Centre in East Peoria.
How many people were affected
Reports differ on the size of the evacuation. Yahoo News reported that it affected roughly 2,000 people, while Patch, citing CNN, said more than 5,000 residents and workers were evacuated. The difference may reflect whether workers in the zone were counted along with residents.
The investigation
Federal agencies are involved. Patch and Yahoo News reported FBI involvement, and NTD said the ATF’s Chicago Field Division also responded. Authorities have not publicly named any suspects or said what may have motivated the threat.
The plant, formerly owned by ADM, was bought by Houston-based BioUrja Group in 2021. At the time, ADM said the plant employed about 150 people and could produce about 135 million gallons of ethanol a year, NTD reported. It makes ethanol used in beverages and industrial products, plus corn-based oils used in renewable diesel.
Why it matters for families
An overnight evacuation is hard on any household, especially with children, older relatives or pets. Officials’ handling here offers a few reminders worth keeping in mind:
- Follow official evacuation orders right away, even if you do not see danger yourself.
- Keep a small go-bag with medicines, phone chargers, important papers and pet supplies.
- Know where local shelters are, and check city and police social media accounts for updates before returning home.
- Talk calmly with children about what happened; reassure them that the area was searched before families were allowed back.
What to watch next
Key questions remain: who placed the device, what it contained, and whether charges will follow. Upstormed News will follow the investigation and report any arrest or new details from police, the FBI or the ATF.
This was one of several disruptive events across the country this week, including the nationwide FAA ground stop.
Read more: All Accounted For After Tanker Hits Cruise Boat on Mississippi in New Orleans
Does your family have an evacuation plan and a go-bag ready?
Sources: Yahoo News, “Authorities lift Peoria evacuation order: ‘No other items of concern’” (November 14, 2026); Patch, “Evacuation Order Lifted After Bomb Found At IL Ethanol Plant, No Arrests Made” (November 14, 2026); NTD, “Evacuations Lifted After Overnight Search Following Bomb Discovery at Illinois Ethanol Plant” (November 14, 2026)
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