BioLab plant fire: Georgia residents evacuate as toxic smoke billows from chemical-fueled inferno
Georgia officials encourage Rockdale County evacuees to bring their pets with them
By Andrea Margolis Fox News
Published September 29, 2024 5:18pm EDT
Georgia officials are asking some residents to evacuate after a fire at a chemical plant started spreading toxic smoke on Sunday.
The fire began at the BioLab plant in Conyers – which is located around 32 miles southeast of Atlanta – at 5 a.m. on Sunday, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. BioLab is a company that produces pool chemicals, according to its website.
BioLab told Fox News Digital that they are "actively responding" to the incident.
"Our employees are accounted for with no injuries reported," a spokesperson said. "Our team is on the scene, working with first responders and local authorities to assess and contain the situation. As always, the safety of our community remains our top priority."
By the afternoon, the smoke clouds were emanating from the facility and huge billows of multicolored clouds still polluted the air. During a press conference on Sunday morning, Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel said that a sprinkler head at the facility malfunctioned and "caus[ed] a mixture with a water reactive chemical."
Social media video of the fire shows gigantic clouds of smoke visible from I-20, which had been blocked off between Salem Road and Turner Hill on Sunday afternoon.
Authorities say that those who live south of I-20 are safe, but those who live north of I-20 or between I-20 and Sigman Road are asked to evacuate.
"Please evacuate the area if you are inside this zone," Rockdale County officials said in a Facebook post. "I-20 will be blocked off in both directions between Salem Rd and Turner Hill."
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