An industrial plant in Texas erupted in flames this afternoon, sending vast black plumes of toxic smoke into the sky and a stream of blazing chemicals pouring from the site.

US television pictures showed the inferno burning out of control at the Magna Blend, Inc. chemical plant near the town of Waxahachie, with the potentially toxic smoke blackening skies for miles around.

A local environmental official contacted by CNN was unable to say what caused the huge fire in the town south of Dallas.

"The only thing we know for sure right now is the building where the fire began looks to be a complete loss," said Donald Golden, a manager at the local environmental health and safety office for the town.

"There are several departments responding to the fire still attempting to put it out," he said.

"All of our employees and anybody who was visiting the plant at the time the fire began has been evacuated and accounted for. So that was obviously our first concern. Everybody is out and safe," said Golden.

He added that a nearby college had been evacuated, but that he was unsure whether an elementary school not far from the facility had been cleared out.

"I don't know the status but I do know they are upwind from the fire so any of the fumes and smoke are all being directed the opposite direction of the school," Golden told CNN.