GEORGE - A large drum of fertilizer caught fire near George Thursday, creating a plume of smoke that caused authorities to shut down state Route 281 for a short time.

Grant County Fire District 3 and the Grant County Sheriff's Office responded to the report of a chemical fire on Road 1 Northwest near SR 281 at about 12:20 p.m., according to Sheriff's spokesman Kyle Foreman.

An individual was reportedly using a cutting torch to cut up the metal container, which officials said contained approximately 800 pounds of a dry chemical fertilizer of an as yet unknown type.

The fertilizer ignited and the resultant plume of smoke began drifting east from the scene toward SR 281 and Interstate 90.

The highway and Road 1 were closed for a portion of the afternoon as emergency officials tried to determine the nature of the chemicals.

Fire crews used foam and water to put out the small fire, which did not spread from inside the container, according to Fire District 3 Lt. David Durfee.

No injuries occurred, and Durfee said the individual who was reportedly cutting apart the container did apparently have permission of the owner to do so.

The Grant County Health Department and Grant County Emergency Management were notified of the situation, but Foreman said it was determined there was no immediate danger to public health.