A fire inside the A.P. Nonweiler plant last Monday night that caused an evacuation was ignited by static electricity, the Oshkosh Fire Department said.

The fire department was called to 3321 County Road A. in Oshkosh just after 6 p.m. Monday. The plants sprinkler system was able to contain the fire until the department arrived to extinguish the remaining flames, a statement from the fire department said.

During the fire, water from the sprinkler system got into some titanium dioxide stored inside the building. This white powder substance is a harmless chemical used to whiten toothpaste and paint products.

The Oshkosh Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team and the Department of Natural Resources also responded to the fire to help assist in monitoring the titanium dioxide substance.

Area residents may notice a white residue on the ground and in nearby waterways from the powder in the building, but the fire department said the residue is harmless