A fire gutted a Milford machine shop Tuesday morning and created a potentially toxic aftermath for firefighters.

Paint and chemicals are mixed daily at Perkins Rouge and Paint, located at 49 Buckingham Place. Fire officials believe the flames began in a piece of machinery and quickly spread due to the nature of the chemicals.

The battalion chief says firefighters had to deal with oxidizers that are ammonium-based. As a result, he says once the fire was extinguished, all firefighters were evacuated from the building so hazmat crews could investigate the situation.

All of the 35 firefighters were sent to the hospital for evaluation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.