The Associated Press

AP Photo/Jack Sauer Emergency workers set up outside the Yardney Technical Products factory, Tuesday, in Stonington, Conn. A battery explosion and fire forced the evacuation of about three square miles. There were no reported injuries.

STONINGTON, Conn. — A fire Tuesday at a eastern Connecticut company that makes high-performance batteries for the space shuttle and other NASA programs forced the evacuation of the surrounding neighborhood and three schools. No injuries were reported.

The incident at Yardney Technical Products occurred at about 1:40 p.m., filling the neighborhood with a strong chemical odor, authorities said.

Police Chief J. Darren Stewart ordered residents of the area and students at the local middle school, West Broad Street Elementary School and the West Vine Street Elementary School evacuated to the town's high school as a precaution.  

Residents were allowed to return late Tuesday afternoon after air and water samples showed no environmental contamination, said Dennis Schain, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Yardney's batteries have been used by the space shuttle and NASA's robotic Mars rover.

The company also won a contract to supply batteries for NASA's Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, which will replace the shuttle.