On Sunday (29/09), fire at the chemical factory BioLab in Conyers, Georgia, sent a giant plume of dark smoke into the air. Photos and videos of the incident quickly went viral, as local residents could see the plume from miles away. Now, state and local authorities are revealing more details about the impact of the incident.
By Aimee Baker “My husband is a firefighter and took these photos of his view of the fire in Conyers GA” pic.twitter.com/fMx0GHoFxZ
-James Spann (@spann) September 29, 2024
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Here’s a summary of what happened at BioLab
Associated Press reports that the fire started after a sprinkler malfunctioned around 5 a.m. local time. The malfunction caused the water to mix with a water-reactive chemical, producing a cloud of chemicals.
BioLab’s website states that it is the pool and spa water care division of KIK Consumer Products, based in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Emergency crews initially contained a small fire on the plant’s roof, but it reignited on Sunday afternoon. The flames were brought under control around 4pm this Sunday.
Additionally, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that chemical plant employees were inside the building at the time but were not injured. BioLab confirmed the AJC report in a statement.
“Our top priority is ensuring the safety of the community, and our teams are working around the clock to respond to the current situation at our Conyers, Georgia facility,” a statement from the spokesperson said Monday. “We continue to work collaboratively with first responders and local authorities and have deployed specialized out-of-state teams to the scene to reinforce and support their efforts. We are all focused on remedying the situation as quickly as possible.”
More details on the impact of the incident on nearby Georgia residents
Local officials reopened Interstate 20 on Monday morning after closing it in both directions in the area on Sunday. However, other roads in the county and county government offices remain closed.
On Sunday, evacuation orders were issued for people in the northern part of Rockdale County, north of Interstate 20. Media reports said 17,000 were evacuated, but a spokeswoman for the local sheriff’s office, Christine Nesbitt, did not release a exact number. Others were advised to shelter in place.
This is due to the fire at the BioLab in Conyers GA. They shelter us in place with doors, windows closed and air conditioning units turned off. We also need more information about the types of chemicals we are being exposed to. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/KKC8ia6CZe
-Imtroby (@imtroby) September 29, 2024
On Monday, more than 90,000 residents in Conyers (east of Atlanta) were told to shelter in place indefinitely.
“For everyone sheltering in place, the best practice is to turn off the air conditioning and keep windows and doors closed,” a statement from Rockdale County government said.
Meanwhile, the state Environmental Protection Agency and Division of Environmental Protection have already conducted air quality research. The results “revealed irritating and harmful chlorine” in the air caused by the BioLab fire.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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What do you think, roommates?
