GEORGE — Grant County Fire District 3 and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported chemical spill and fire near George.

Emergency dispatchers received a call today at about 12:20 p.m. that approximately 800 pounds of a dry chemical fertilizer were released near Road 1 Northwest and State Route 281.

An unknown individual was reportedly cutting apart what was likely a metal container when the fertilizer ignited, according to Sheriff’s spokesman Kyle Foreman.

The resultant plume of smoke was drifting east from the scene, causing SR 281 to be closed for a short time.

Grant County Health Department and Grant County Emergency Management were advised of the situation and fire crews used foam and water to extinguish the small fire, which reportedly did not spread from inside the container.

Road 1 is still blocked to through traffic at this time, Foreman said at about 1 p.m.

No injuries were immediately reported. There is no immediate risk to public health, according to Foreman.