PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- A train derailed near the Route 44 and Route 2 interchange in Painesville on Wednesday afternoon.

Several cars were on fire, and there were reports of thick black smoke billowing over the area, WEWS-TV in Cleveland reported.

It was unclear what the 112-car CSX train was carrying. It was traveling from Cleveland to Buffalo.

Hazmat was being called to the scene as a precaution.

Mike Pettrey, who was driving in the area when the train derailed, said he heard an explosion.

He said he could see a large amount of smoke and even flames from his office, which is about a half-mile away.

Pettrey, vice president of C&M Transport Inc., said his family lives in the area adjacent to the tracks and they were being evacuated.

Pettrey added that the power went out in his office.

A motorist who was driving nearby on state Route 44 at about noon also said he heard an explosion and saw a white flash.

"I looked, and an oil tanker exploded. Flames shot 50, 60 feet in the air. Other cars were thrown off the tracks and dumped grain that started burning," Michael Wright said.

The tracks are about 300 yards from a road, so firefighters were having trouble reaching the fire, he said.

The CSX train appeared to be loaded with oil and grain.

No other information was available at this time.

Motorists should avoid the area if possible, the television station reported.