US truck carrying lithium ion batteries catches fire

Authorities in the US state of Ohio have evacuated an area of the capital Columbus for several hours out of fear that a fire in truck's trailer could have caused lithium ion batteries to explode.

Police began clearing a several-block area west of downtown shortly after 7am on Thursday and closed off several highway exits near the Scioto River.

Officers went door-to-door to alert residents about the evacuation and a shelter was set up at a community centre.

Although firefighters were still battling the blaze as of late morning, the evacuation order was lifted about three hours after it was issued and no injuries were reported.

The evacuation was ordered out of concern that the batteries could burn very rapidly and explode.

The fire was discovered about 6am but the back of the smoking trailer was not opened until about 9am because authorities were determining the best way to extinguish the blaze.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.