PINE BLUFF — Debris from a rocket caught fire at the Pine Bluff Arsenal on Saturday, officials said, sparking a small flame reported by a control room operator.

The rocket had just been drained of sarin nerve agent when it ignited, the arsenal said in a news release.

Officials said no chemical agent was released or moved outside of the area and no employees were hurt. The public was not at risk, officials said, calling it a minor event that lasted 10 seconds.

The flame activated the arsenal’s automatic detection and response systems and the control room operator responded properly by initiating the chute sprays, the release said.

The arsenal plans on inspecting the involved equipment and resuming operations when it is deemed safe, said Randy Long, the site project manager.

"The facility and equipment are designed to accommodate this type of occurrence. We expect processing to resume as early as [Saturday] evening," Long said.

This story was published Sunday, August 14, 2005.