The Associated Press

ELYRIA, Ohio — A raging fire at a mostly vacant warehouse early Thursday forced nearby families to stay out of their homes overnight. No one was injured.

The fire reported around 1:30 a.m. Thursday sent flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air at the former General Industries building and caused three-story sections of wall to crumble.

An evacuation order forced 25 residents of the surrounding neighborhood to take shelter at a nearby school. The order was lifted after 8 a.m.

Two employees of a small molding business that occupied a portion of the building got out safely, Fire Chief Joseph Pronesti said. He estimated that the damage would run ``into the hundreds of thousands of dollars'' and said the cause of the fire was unknown.

The evacuations had been prompted by concern that the fire might spread, and by uncertainty about chemicals that may have been in the building, officials said.

The state Environmental Protection Agency coordinator sent to the scene later determined that there was no hazardous materials threat.

But neighborhood residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed to keep out the acrid smoke.

Elyria is 23 miles west of Cleveland.