SHREVEPORT, La. – A midday fire forced the evacuation of a local business on Line Avenue Saturday, but quick action by firefighters and employees prevented injuries.

The Shreveport Fire Department received the 911 call around 12:09 p.m. from maintenance personnel who reported flames inside the commercial building in the 8700 block of Line Avenue.

Fire crews arrived within five minutes and initially saw no signs of smoke or fire from the outside. Once inside, they discovered a machine burning in the rear of the building. Maintenance staff were already attempting to put out the fire with extinguishers.

Firefighters soon learned the machine contained hexavalent chromium, a hazardous material that could not be extinguished with water. Crews removed several flaming filters from the machine a

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