LONGVIEW, N.C. --

Fire and explosions ripped through a plant in Long View, N.C. Sunday night.

The fire began burning around 8 p.m. When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting through the roof.

Neighbors reported hearing several explosions.

Several workers were inside the building when the fire started, officials said. No one was hurt.

The front wall of the building collapsed, but officials said a fire wall kept flames from spreading to the other side of the building.

Six fire departments helped fight the flames near the Burke County, Catawba County line.

Heavy smoke billowed into the sky for several hours.

Several homes near the plant were also evacuated because of the size of the fire, not from concerns over chemicals.

Investigators remained on scene late Sunday night, and have not released a cause of the fire.

Copyright 2010 by . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.