Fire damages Detroit chemical company, forces evacuations
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A Detroit company that specializes in adhesives and paint was damaged Thursday by a fire that also forced the evacuation of surrounding homes and a nearby elementary school.
The fire started early Thursday afternoon at Chemical Technology Inc.'s offices and warehouse on the city's east side.
MyFoxDetroit.com reported that the result of the fire was a potentially toxic plume of smoke that forced police and fire crews to evacuate a 300 meter radius around the fire. Fire officials called the fire a level 3 hazardous material situation at its peak.
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According to MyFoxDetroit.com all seven employees were able to escape the building without injury. As of 4:30 p.m. the fire was downgraded to a level 1.
Students at White Elementary were taken to another school a few blocks away due to air quality issues, and parents picked them up there.
Gerhard Weber, the owner of Chemical Technology, told The Detroit News that a spark was caused by employees moving chemicals. The spark created the flames, which quickly spread through the building.
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Firefighters said they were initially unsure what materials were burning. The exact cause of the blaze was under investigation, according to fire officials.
The fire was under control by 6 p.m., and residents were allowed to return home. Fire officials were conducting environmental tests.
The neighborhood around the burned building is a mix of homes, small shops and other warehouses.
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"I saw a lot of fire and smelled a lot of fumes," 32-year-old Sharlisa Matthews told the Detroit Free Press. "Now I feel dizzy. I'm worried."
Resident Dwayne Miller, 36, started walking closer to the blaze Thursday afternoon until he thought better of it and turned around.
"I got scared. I don't want nothing to blow up," he told The Detroit News.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.