Emergency services said the water mixed with a reactive chemical, causing residents to leave their homes to take shelter
ome residents of Rockdale County east of Atlanta had to be evacuated from their homes, while others were asked to stay indoors to avoid contaminants that could be produced during a chemical plant fire that also forced authorities to close several highways and roads to protect local residents.
Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett held a conference to give details about the fire at the BioLab chemical plant that forced residents to evacuate to protect themselves from contaminants while fire crews managed to extinguish the flames.
Water mixed with a chemical
They explained that the fire started when a sprinkler head failed around 5:00 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 29 at the BioLab plant in Conyers, Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel said at the conference.
“The malfunction caused the water to mix with a water-reactive chemical, which produced a plume of chemicals. We are not sure what chemicals may have been contained in the plume,” McDaniel said.
Roads closed
The Georgia Department of Transportation said I-20 eastbound/westbound between Turner Hill Rd. and West Ave. was closed. During the time they were trying to contain the fire, they stated that I-20 was closed in both directions, and they would better use Highway 78 or Highway 212 as alternatives.
All southbound traffic on Hi-Roc Rd between the Irwin Bridge and Hwy 138 is closed. Highway 138 to I20 from Turnerhill Rd to Salem Rd is also closed, they shared on social media.
“We are actively responding to an incident at our facility in Conyers, Georgia,” a BioLab representative told The Atlanta Journal- Constitution.
“Our employees are accounted for and no injuries have been reported. Our team is on site, working with emergency services and local authorities to assess and contain the situation,” they added.
Fire rekindled
Sheriff Levett said a small fire on the roof of the plant was initially controlled, “but rekindled Sunday afternoon,” this he commented as a plume of gray smoke rose behind him. “Crews are trying to control the fire, and people should stay away from the area.”
Residents in the northern part of Rockdale County, were ordered to evacuate and seek the shelters they opened for protection, and others were directed to take shelter in their homes with windows and doors closed.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division were on the scene, county Emergency Management Director Sharon Webb told The Associated Press. “The agencies are monitoring the air to give us a clearer picture of what the plume is.”
They were working to remove the chemical
For her part, McDaniel appended that crews were working to remove the chemical from the building, away from the water source. “Once the product is contained, the situation will be assessed and officials will inform residents if it is safe to return to their homes.”
In the most recent update, the sheriff’s office clarified that “the evacuation zone includes Signman to Lakeview at Farmer Rd, Irwin Bridge to GA 20, and GA 20 back to Sigman Rd. I-20 remains closed from the Turner Hill to Salem Rd exits.”
He added, “Those on the north side of Rockdale County and not in the evacuation zone should shelter in place.”
Air quality tests
A local hospital began moving patients to other facilities as a precautionary measure, and officials urged those with an urgent medical emergency to go to a nearby hospital or one in another county, Sharon Webb added to the same media outlet.
Environmental safety officials are conducting air quality tests to determine if there are toxins in the smoke.