VENICE, Ill. - Authorities in the Madison County community of Venice say no one was injured in a series of explosions and fire that shook a local magnesium plant.

Authorities say the blasts took place at the Magnesium Elektron plant late Monday night. They told the (Alton) Telegraph that workers were working with a dozen coils in a furnace when something triggered the initial explosion, which was followed by several smaller booms.

At the height of the fire, a huge plume of smoke covered a wide area around the plant.

The high-temperature fire largely was allowed to burn itself out, because water cannot be used on magnesium. Sand eventually was used to douse the flames.

A nearby elementary school was closed Tuesday as a precaution. ___

Information from: The Telegraph, http://www.thetelegraph.com

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