Burning chemical plant forces evacuations

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A large fire burned, Monday, inside a chemical plant on the coast of Georgia, where authorities ordered about 100 nearby homes to evacuate because of threats from toxic smoke and potential explosions.

Emergency responders safely evacuated a small handful of employees working when the fire broke out at about 4 a.m., Monday, at the plant outside the port city of Brunswick, Ga., said fire Capt. Eric Prosswimmer, who was on the scene with fire crews from Jacksonville, Fla., sent to help battle the flames.

The fire sent a large plume of thick smoke into the air from the plant, located about 70 miles south of Savannah.

As a precaution, local emergency officials ordered neighborhoods within a 1-mile radius of the plant to evacuate. People within a 3-mile radius were told to shelter in place.

Wayne Neal, chairman of Glynn County’s elected Board of Commissioners, estimated roughly 100 households had been told to evacuate.