OMAHA, Neb. — Residents in Omaha, Nebraska, were forced from their homes after a fire started at a chemical plant. By Tuesday morning, the shelter that had been opened was shut down.
Smoke could be seen from the Nox-Crete plant, NBC News reported.
3rd alarm fire at 1415 S 20th St.
— Omaha Fire Department (@OmahaFireDept) May 31, 2022
Active fire please stay clear of the area. We still have units responding pic.twitter.com/Na69D8njnl
No one was at the business, which makes various chemical products, when firefighters responded Monday night.
Officials are not sure what caused the fire, but several large propane bottles exploded in the building, KETV reported. Part of the building also collapsed, The New York Times reported.
Walls are collapsing here and explosions can be heard. This is the Nox-Crete three alarm fire off 20th and Center. That plume is full of chemicals, shelter in place nearby and do not approach, per OPD. pic.twitter.com/gHyOspzAnd
— Sarah Fili (@SarahFiliKETV) May 31, 2022
The building was known to have stored hazardous chemicals, NBC News reported.
“We’re unsure what exactly is in there, but we do know that there are some chemicals that are burning, Omaha Fire Department battalion chief Scott Fitzpatrick said, according to the Times.
Pottawattamie County Emergency Management, however, said the smoke was not toxic to nearby residents, according to KETV.
Nox-Crete makes coatings, adhesives, sealants and chemical compounds used in construction, the Times reported.
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