WILLIAMSON, N.Y. — A large fire that broke out at an industrial building in Wayne County is still under investigation, but officials believe the cause is accidental.

The assistant chief with the Williamson Fire Department said crews responded to Thatcher Company of New York on Route 104 just before 7 a.m. on Tuesday and when they arrived, flames were burning through the roof. The company deals in chemical manufacturing and distribution.

According to the fire official, the fire broke out in an area of the building used for storing empty totes and drums after they have been washed out. Crews were able to contain the fire to that area and prevented it from spreading to the rest of the building. 

A section of Route 104 was temporarily shut down while firefighters battled the flames.

The Williamson assistant chief says there were no chemicals present in the area of the building that burned. Despite that, the DEC is checking runoff at the site for possible contamination as a precaution.

Nearly a dozen fire departments responded to the call. Eleven fire personnel were treated at various hospitals for injuries or smoke inhalation

All employees were evacuated safely from the building.