Firefighters battle massive blaze in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. -- Local residents were evacuated as firefighters battled a blaze near S. 20th Street and Woolworth Avenue in Omaha Monday night.

Responders were called to Nox Crete at approximately 7:00 p.m. CT. According to its website, Nox-Crete makes form coating and deactivator, liquid floor hardeners, joint fillers, curing and sealing compounds and water repellents. The company had not yet released a statement.

Witnesses reported hearing an explosion, while others reported seeing smoke from the fire from various parts of the Omaha metro, including several miles away.

Authorities sent an alert out around 10:30 p.m. about an evacuation site that had been set up at the Columbus Community Center, located at 1523 S. 24th St., where Red Cross was on hand to assist, Omaha Fire officials said.

The fire was initially classified as a two-alarm blaze, but it was upgraded to a three-alarm fire at 7:45 p.m. No injuries had been reported by Monday night.

The front part of the building collapsed, but no firefighters were inside when that happened, fire officials told WOWT. According to an OFD report received late Monday, the fire penetrated the roof, “causing walls to become structurally unstable.”

The OFD report states that the structure is valued at $456,200, not including the contents.

OPPD reported a power outage affecting more than 2,500 people as a result of the fire.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management says the smoke poses no toxicity risks.

A large fire that raged through a Nebraska chemical plant was extinguished by Tuesday morning and nearby residents who were initially evacuated were allowed to return to their homes, authorities said.

Nox-Crete headquarters said the company did not have a statement Tuesday morning.

Authorities have been unable to determine a cause of the incident.