Texas chemical fire results in evacuation of 72,000

A fire at a chemical plant has forced the evacuation of a Texas town of 72,000 people after it released a massive plume of toxic orange smoke that could be seen for miles, officials said. No serious injuries were reported as a result of the fire, but officials called for the mass evacuation after the smoke blanketed much of Bryan, Texas, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Houston. The danger comes from the huge amounts of ammonium nitrate stored in the burning warehouse which was affecting people's eyes, noses and throats, officials said. Dozens of people were hospitalized with respiratory problems, local media reported.