Massive fire erupts at chemicals plant in Texas

HOUSTON - A massive fire broke out Friday at a chemicals plant in the US state of Texas, local media reported.

The fire erupted about 3:30 pm local time in an industrial district in the city of Garland in north Texas, according to the website of the newspaper The Houston Chronicle.

Though there were no immediate reports of injuries, evacuations have been ordered within a quarter-mile of the plant, the city's emergency management coordinator said.

The plant on fire was sold to a Texas-based company Nexeo Solutions, a supplier of distributed chemical products and services.

Flames could be seen roiling high into the sky, and the fire was at two-alarms at 5 pm local time, according to reports.

The Garland Fire Department said the plant has 10 chemicals filed as Tier 2 hazards by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, officials said.