A chemical fire that started around three Tuesday afternoon as the Desert Depot on 30th Street near Avenue 8-E is now under control but fire crews are still investigating what caused the blaze.

Fire Fighters say they arrived to see smoke coming from the loading dock of the building. They also say things could have gotten out of control in a hurry, but say four sprinkler heads inside the warehouse helped keep the fire at bay.

Surrounding neighborhoods and school were evacuated and taken to the Yuma Civic Center.

Some of those evacuees included Brandon and Miguel Murietta. They were helping their mother set up her classroom at Gila Ridge High School when they noticed the fire.

They were later evacuated from the school and their house. The family decided to stay at their friends house for the night, but others were able to return home after 6:30 in the evening.

Although there is no word yet as to what caused the fire. Yuma’s Fire Chief Art Castricone says that the fire chemical, Phosphate, was listed as one of the chemicals involved in the fire. He adds that there could also be other dangerous chemicals involved.

And, the president of the gowan group, Cindy Baker, said this is the first-time a chemical fire has hit their business. "We've been operating in Yuma for about 50 years. And, we never had a fire, this is the first incident that we had like this," Baker said.

Baker said a complete list of all the chemicals involved during the fire will not be provided for another 24 hours, once the haz team has completed an inventory of their products.

Air quality tests have been taken and results from the fire should be available late Wednesday.

Casticone is also advising the public to ventilate their home by opening up windows and letting some fresh air in.

Fire Department also adds that seven people were taken to the hospital from Desert Depot, but emergency personal tell us they have been released with non-life threatening injuries.