What we know about the Indiana industrial fire that's forced residents to evacuate

A large industrial fire in eastern Indiana has prompted the evacuation of nearby residents, and officials say the blaze could burn for several days.

The fire broke out at a former factory in Richmond, a city of about 35,000 residents 70 miles east of Indianapolis. Richmond sits on the state's border with Ohio.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of people within a half-mile of the site on Tuesday and told others nearby to shelter in place. The response included local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Richmond Mayor Dave Snow said the fire occurred at the site of a former plastics recycler and retailer that had been ordered to clean up what city officials had deemed an unsafe property.