Fire at Chemical Plant in Texas

A fire that started as workers mixed chemicals at a plant south of Dallas shot flames and huge plumes of smoke into the sky on Monday, forcing schoolchildren and residents to evacuate or take cover indoors to avoid possible exposure to dangerous gases, the New York Times reports.

The CNN reports that the preliminary air quality tests show "no threat to the public" from a massive fire at a Texas chemical plant, city and federal officials said.

The fire, at a large complex at a Magnablend facility in Waxahachie, overwhelmed a sprinkler system and consumed a fire truck, but no injuries were reported. Chief David Hudgins of the Waxahachie Fire Department said it was not immediately clear what chemicals had started the fire. About 1,000 people were evacuated but allowed to return to their homes early Monday night, the New York Times informs.