Fire Erupts at Dallas-Area Chemical Plant Flames are roiling 50 feet into the sky from a fire at a chemical plant near Dallas, sending a black column of smoke drifting high into the sky. Authorities say the fire erupted around 3:30 p.m. Friday in an industrial district in Garland. The city's emergency management coordinator says there were no immediate reports of injuries, but evacuations have been ordered within a quarter-mile of the plant. Fire Capt. Merrill Balanciere says it's unclear what sparked the blaze. He says firefighters were delayed in approaching it because of nearby chemical storage tanks. A spokesman for Ashland Chemical, whose logos are prominently displayed at the plant, says the plant was sold to Nexeo Solutions about 18 months ago. A phone message left at The Woodlands-based Nexeo wasn't immediately returned.