RICE COUNTY – Fire crews continue to monitor the fire at the Jacam Chemical Plant north of Sterling.

The fire started around 9 a.m. at one of the plants outer buildings, according to Gregg Klein Director of Rice County Emergency Management.

Some evacuations were suggested for properties just north of the facility.

Laura Snyder, spokesperson for Jacam says the building involved was used to produce organophilic clay, which is a dry powder that is mixed with other chemicals to product drilling mud for the oil industry.

While the material is not explosive, it does burn with a lot of heat according to Snyder.

Klein said air quality around the plant will be monitored for the next 24 hours, but the materials that were inside the building were non-toxic.

Snyder and Klein both said all procedures were followed during the incident. Everyone was accounted for that was inside the building.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Avenue Q from Kansas 14 to 17 Road was temporarily closed due to the fire, according to the Rice County Sheriff’s Department.

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RICE COUNTY – First responders are on the scene of a fire at a chemical plant in Rice County.

Just after 9a.m., officials reported the fire in just one building on the Jacam Factory property north of Sterling, according to the Rice County Sheriff’s Department.

Employees were evacuated and there are no injuries reported, according to the sheriff’s department.

Fire crews are carefully monitoring the situation. Jacam officials are working with authorities to perform a thorough investigation of the incident and take any corrective actions needed.

Avenue Q from Kansas 14 to 17 Road is temporarily closed due to the fire, according to the sheriff’s department.