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A significant fire broke out at the BioLab chemical plant in the city of Conyers in Rockdale County, Georgia on September 29, producing massive amounts of toxic smoke and prompting road closures and evacuations in the area.

Citizens in the county were advised to shelter in place to avoid potential contaminants from the blaze as numerous hazmat crews and other emergency services responded to the fire.

According to preliminary reports, the fire ignited when a sprinkler malfunctioned around 05:00 LT on Sunday, causing water to mix with a water-reactive chemical. However, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The fire was reportedly brought under control at 16:00 LT, but the roof and walls of the plant have since collapsed.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) said it issued a shelter-in-place order on behalf of Rockdale’s emergency management agency. No timetable has been provided as to when the area will be safe.

Until the severity of the chemical is determined, evacuation sites have been set up at Lucious Sanders Recreation Center (2484 Bruce Street in Lithonia), Bert Adams Boy Scout Camp (218 Scout Road in Covington), and Wolverine Gym (8134 Geiger Street in Newton County).

A dispatcher with the Rockdale Fire Department confirmed that Rockdale Piedmont Hospital was evacuating some of its patients. All Newton County schools and the courthouse will be closed on Monday.

Around 60 personnel were deployed to the scene to deal with the blaze. Local authorities are still assessing the threat level of the situation.

The fire generated a massive smoke plume that was visible as far as 48 km (30 miles) away. Roads were closed, including both sides of Interstate 20.

Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel told reporters crews are working on removing the chemical from the building, away from the water source. Once the product is contained, the situation will be assessed and officials will let residents know whether it is safe to return to their homes, she said.

No fatalities or injuries have been reported so far as a result of the incident.

This is the third blaze to occur at the plant in the last seven years. While it is unclear which chemical was involved in the fire, officials said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will sample the smoke plume to determine its contents.

References:

1 Conyers chemical plant fire leads to evacuation of 17,000 – AJC – September 29, 2024