Fire Breaks Out at Georgia Chemical Plant; Halting Transportation

A fire at the BioLab chemical plant in Conyers, Georgia, early on Sunday morning led to significant safety measures, including evacuations, shelter-in-place advisories, and road closures in the vicinity, as reported by Rockdale County officials. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. when water from a malfunctioning sprinkler head interacted with a water-reactive chemical on the roof, resulting in a chemical plume.

Firefighters managed to contain the initial blaze, but the fire reignited several hours later, as confirmed by Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett in a video message on Facebook. By 4 p.m., the fire had been extinguished, although the chemical plume continued to be visible from miles away, posing challenges for local residents. According to Rockdale County Fire and Rescue Chief Marian McDaniel, the smoke could linger for several days.

Subsequent air quality assessments conducted by state and federal agencies detected the presence of chlorine, a harmful irritant, emanating from the facility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that exposure to chlorine can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as symptoms like coughing, nausea, headaches, and dizziness.

In light of the situation, Rockdale County officials strongly advised all residents to shelter in place, keeping air conditioning units off and windows closed. Sheriff Levett emphasized the seriousness of the situation, urging residents to avoid the area and refrain from sightseeing.

Authorities closed several roads, particularly between Sigman Road and Interstate 20, affecting approximately 17,000 residents who were advised to evacuate. Interstate traffic was also halted in both directions between Almon Road and Turner Hill Road. To manage the crisis effectively, Sheriff Levett announced plans to seek support from the Georgia Department of Public Safety and the Georgia State Patrol.

As a precautionary measure, a local hospital began relocating patients to other facilities, advising those with urgent medical needs to seek care at nearby hospitals or those in other counties. Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt characterized the situation as an “all hands on deck” response, with resources from various agencies like GEMA and FEMA actively engaged in managing the incident.

Furthermore, it was reported that the roof of the chemical plant had collapsed, resulting in significant damage. Residents in neighboring Newton County also received alerts regarding the emergency. In its final report, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board indicated that strong winds from Hurricane Laura had previously damaged the lab’s warehouse, allowing rainwater to enter the building and subsequently triggering the chemical reaction that led to the fire.