The incident happened on Union Pacific Railroad tracks in the city of North Platte earlier Thursday, Daily Mail reports.
North Platte Volunteer Fire Department announced that they would order those living in the area to evacuate due to the toxic smoke from the railroad.
In a post to social media, they said: 'Emergency evacuation for the area between splinter and front North of railroad track due fire at the railroad involving heavy toxic smoke.
'Explosion at Union Pacific Railroad Bailey Yards at approximately 12:10 pm.'
In a later update, they announced they would be asking more homes to prepare to evacuate.
They said: 'Houses between Homestead and Front, be prepared to evacuate in the next one to two hours due to wind and weather changing.'
Pictures shared online by the crew show a thick plume of white smoke moving across farmland.
RHM/PR