RALEIGH, N.C., Oct 7 (Reuters) - A fire that created a toxic cloud at a hazardous waste plant in a Raleigh suburb has been extinguished and thousands of residents will be allowed to return home on Saturday, officials said.

A series of explosions and a fire late on Thursday had sent deadly chlorine gas drifting out of the Environmental Quality Co. in Apex, about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Raleigh.

City officials said that with the exception of a few hot spots, the fire had been put out and tests indicated the air around the plant was safe.

About 4,000 residents had complied with the city's evacuation order and they were told to begin a phased re-entry on Saturday morning.

"This will allow our residents and businesses to be at business as usual by hopefully later today," Mayor Keith Weatherly said at a news conference.

Officials said the area closest to the facility would be the last to be reoccupied as they tried to determine what caused the fire and what had burned.

No injuries or deaths were reported but officials said more than a dozen people, including firefighters and police officers, were treated at area hospitals for respiratory problems.

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