Poisonous blaze in chemical manufacturing building on Swiss-German border makes citizens close windows

A large fire broke out Tuesday in the facilities of Ciba Speciality Chemicals GmbH on the Swiss-German border, and authorities warned residents of the area and nearby Basel to close windows and doors in case of poisons in the smoke, officials said.

The fire started in a chemical manufacturing building in Grenzach, on the Germany side of the border and then spread to an administration building, said Ciba spokesman Markus Spitteler, according to the AP.

Smoke could be seen over the northeastern Swiss city of Basel. Officials said the warning about the smoke was a precaution because it was uncertain what it contained.

T.E.