Volunteer firefighters battled a smoky fire Tuesday afternoon in the Village of East Troy.
The fire at US Packaging at Highway 120 and Buell Road started about 12:30 p.m. It was still burning at 5 p.m., and smoldered into the evening.
The company wraps and ships products for other companies.
Fire officials said it started when powdered chemicals were being unloaded from a semi-truck. A forklift punctured one of the containers, sparking a small fire that grew and led to three explosions.
The billowing smoke could be seen for miles away.
At least 12 departments responded to the fire. Both the town and village of East Troy fire departments are all volunteer.
The Racine hazmat team was also called to scene.
Twenty-one employees were evacuated safely, and no one was hurt.
Fire crews were using water from East Troy Lake, News Chopper 12's Matt Salemme said. He said the building is bordered by marshland and other industry.
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