CLAREMORE, Okla. — UPDATE (8 A.M.): All fire crews were cleared from the metal galvanizing plant.

Crews are hitting hot spots the morning after a large fire at a metal galvanizing plant in Claremore.

Fire crews from Catoosa, Verdigris, Tulsa and Claremore were called to a fire at Valmont-Oklahoma Galvanizing, near State Highway 266 and South 4100 Road, around 6 p.m. Sunday.

Large plumes of thick, black smoke were seen rising into the air Sunday night. Verdigris Fire Chief Mike Shaffer said the plumes reached as high as 300 feet.

Because of the nature of the fire, Shaffer deemed it more of a HAZMAT incident than a structure fire.

Sunday, he said they didn’t want to put a lot of water on the fire because of the chemicals at the plant, and because there is a slough behind the building which leads to the Verdigris River. He said they wanted to make sure that no runoff water got into the river and made it into the drinking water system.

Shaffer told FOX23 Monday morning there is no risk to drinking water in the area.

It took six hours to get the fire out Sunday, and 30 different fire units responded, according to Shaffer.

He said 50 percent of the building was involved in the fire, and there is water and smoke damage.

No injuries were reported and no homes were impacted. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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