Law enforcement agencies are requiring residents and businesses 1-mile north of a Louisiana chemical plant to evacuate as an apparent fire broke out Thursday, CBS affiliate KLFY-TV reports. Those within three miles north of the plant are told to shelter in place, state police said. The station notes that both lanes of Interstate 10 from the Lafayette I-49 exit to Crowley are closed.

The station adds that the Department of Environmental Quality is testing air quality before any evacuations are lifted.

Videos and pictures submitted to KLFY-TV show massive plumes of smoke that were billowing from the FlowChem Technologies plant located in the town Duson.

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Louisiana State Police showed images nearby showing the smoke plume and they urged drivers to avoid the area as emergency crews responded:

#Troopers have closed #I10 near Duson (w/ of #Lafayette) as emergency crews respond to a fire at a chemical facility. As can be seen in the photos the facility is located very close to the #Interstate. Motorists are urged to avoid the area if at all possible while crews respond. pic.twitter.com/a5oU1OwvMk — LA State Police (@LAStatePolice) May 3, 2018

There was no word of any injuries or cause of the fire, but that the scene remains active into the night.

KLFY-TV cites authorities as saying Xylene -- which is used as a solvent in the printing, rubber, paint and leather industries -- was among the chemicals that contributed to the fire at the plant.

CBS affiliate WAFB-TV says that witnesses reported hearing multiple explosions.

The plant is located about 16 miles northwest of Lafayette. The company's website describes the plant as a "specialty oilfield chemical provider that operates across the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. onshore market with blending facilities located at Rayne, Louisiana and Pleasanton, Texas in U.S. and multiple warehouses."