By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – People who live in Old Town St. Peters were evacuated this morning for a few hours after a fire broke out at the MEMC plant in O'Fallon.
The company makes silicon wafers that go into a number of electronic products.
A spokesman for the company says the evacuation was the result of not knowing just what was released into the air. It turned out to be a vinegar-like acid, which the spokesman says is not harmful.
Smoke from the fire was the result of burning plastic.
No injuries have been reported. The fire was extinguished by 8:00 a.m. and workers began returning to the plant within a few hours.
Part of Missouri Highway 79 was also shut down.
Firefirghters at first thought the fire involved hydrophloric acids, which can cause pink eye and corneal burns, inflammation of the respiratory track, skin burns, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain for those exposed to the smoke.