(NBC CHICAGO) - Two workers were injured after a magnesium explosion at a chemical plant in Ottawa Tuesday morning, with streets closed and the public asked to avoid the area for a brief period as officials worked to investigate, NBC Chicago reports.

The incident occurred just before 8 a.m. at Coogee Chemicals, located at 1501 Titanium Drive, the Ottawa Fire Department said.

Just before 8 a.m, the Ottawa Fire Department received a call of an incident at Coogee Chemicals, located at 1501 Titanium Drive. In a Facebook post shortly after, the Ottawa Fire Department asked people nearby the avoid the area, describing the scene as "active."

According to Ottawa Fire Chief Brian Bressner, the fire started after magnesium was being moved from one container to another, after workers used argon gas to help control it.

"There was a problem with either argon or too much oxygen in there," Bressner said, "and it caused it to oxidize."

"Once magnesium starts on fire, it does explode out a little bit," Bressner added.

Five people were inside working at the time, Bressner said, and two suffered burn injuries. They were both transported to nearby hospitals.

At least one of the injuries was critical, Bressner said.