Chemical reaction leads to evacuation

An orangish plume of smoke was spotted late Friday morning in South Bend and prompted a hazmat investigation and a temporary evacuation of an industrial company. 

Just after 11:45 a.m., Imagineering Finishing Technologies, at 1302 W. Sample St., was evacuated.

South Bend Fire Department Battalion Chief David Maenhout said, "There was a chemical reaction in a vat where they dip metal to clean the rust and material off the metal."

The hazmat team of St. Joseph County determined the issue was an ambient reaction with a cleaning solution used at the business.

The 1300 block of Sample Street was shut down for about two hours because of the reaction.

Officials said people living and working nearby should not be concerned about the air quality.