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Atlanta, GA — BioLab contacted media outlets on Oct. 7 with a list of the actions it’s taking in response to a fire at its chemical plant in Conyers on Sept. 29.

The company’s response comes ahead of a hearing called by state lawmakers slated for Tuesday, Oct. 8.

According to a meeting announcement, the hearing will include “the Rockdale County House and Senate Delegations, along with the Minority House Caucus and DeKalb County Delegation members.”

Here’s the meeting announcement:

Join us as the Rockdale County House and Senate Delegations, along with the Minority House Caucus and DeKalb County Delegation members, hold a public hearing to address the recent Biolab chemical fire in Conyers, Georgia. We want to hear directly from citizens, business owners, employees, and others impacted by the fire that occurred on September 29, 2024.

Share this link with anyone who wants to sign up to speak

Share this link with anyone who wants to tune in to the virtual link to listen

Date: Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Location: Coverdell Legislative Office Building (CLOB), Room 606

18 Capitol Square S.W., Atlanta, GA 30334

This is your opportunity to share your experiences and concerns. Let’s work together for accountability and solutions!

#PublicHearing #CommunitySafety #BiolabFire

Decaturish media partner Atlanta News First reported that Rockdale County officials called a news conference on Monday, Oct. 7, to announce that a shelter-in-place order would remain in effect for residents within a 2-mile radius of the BioLab fire in Conyers.

A sprinkler at the BioLab plant on Old Covington Highway in Conyers malfunctioned Sunday morning and sprayed water on a chemical, causing a reaction that created a large, hazardous plume, ANF reported. BioLab is described on its website as a “swimming pool and spa water care division of KIK Consumer Products, based in Lawrenceville, Georgia.”

The malfunction also caused a small fire on the BioLab roof, which was contained. The roof collapsed due to the fire. The fire reignited around noon, and a huge plume of smoke billowed from the plant, prompting the evacuation order. The fire was fully extinguished around 3:30 p.m. later that day.

In the days following, residents in Rockdale, Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Fulton counties reported seeing hazy skies and smelling a chemical in the air. Those closest to the plume were ordered to evacuate, while others were asked to shelter in place.

Teachers and students in Rockdale County resumed lessons on Monday, Oct. 7, with virtual learning through Wednesday, Oct. 9, the district announced Thursday. Government buildings reopened Monday after closing for the week.

The Environmental Protection Agency is leading the investigation into what happened at BioLab. Investigators with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board have also responded.

ANF reported that the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet Tuesday at 10 a.m., during which they could vote to enact a state of emergency for the county.

BioLab has created a resource website that includes information on debris pickup.

For air quality data, Rockdale EMA said residents should check with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website: www.epa.gov/ga/conyers-ga-biolab-fire.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported BioLab is reimbursing the hotel stays for residents displaced by the fire.

“As for local businesses, the company said it is reaching out to provide support through its community assistance center,” the Business Chronicle reported.

In an email to Decaturish, a company spokesperson said, “We continue to work diligently as part of the Unified Command response team, bolstered by the support of the technical specialists we have deployed, to address the situation at our site, and we have continued to make progress since our last update.”

The company announced the following steps it is taking in response to the incident:

— We are preparing to launch in short order a call center that will assist with answering general questions, as well as evaluating and processing reimbursement requests from local Conyers residents and businesses. We expect to be able to provide more details on the call center by Tuesday, Oct. 8.

— Understanding that there are concerns among local residents about debris from the fire where wind has carried materials offsite, we have been actively working since the onset of the situation to remove debris from public areas and roads. In addition, we have activated a debris removal service for community members who wish to have fire debris cleared from their private property. Requests can be submitted to [email protected].

— We have appointed a local Community Liaison who will serve as a key point of contact for direct engagement within the community and will have access to resources with the full support of BioLab.

— We are working swiftly to open our in-person local Community Assistance Center, which will provide a central location for local residents and business owners to access information and resources coordinated by BioLab.

— We have partnered with local organizations to provide food to children who are remote learning this week.

Source: BioLab

The company is facing calls to shut down its operations in Conyers, most notably from U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson.

Decaturish media partner Atlanta News First contributed reporting to this story.

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