A fire at the Biolab in Rockdale County, Georgia prompts emergency shelters to be set up

CNN
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A fire at a chemical plant in Georgia Sunday morning, apparently caused by a sprinkler head malfunction, is forcing evacuation, including of a local hospital, and road closures in the area, according to Rockdale County officials.

The incident occurred around 5 a.m. ET at the BioLab in Conyers, Georgia. Water from the faulty sprinkler head “came into contact with a water-reactive chemical and created a cloud,” district officials said on their website.

CNN has reached out to BioLab, which makes pool and spa treatment products, for comment.

A fire broke out on the roof and firefighters were able to contain the blaze, but the fire reignited hours later, Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett said in a video message posted on Facebook.

“I would urge all of you to spread the word to stay away from this area at this time,” Levett said. “It burns pretty well. We’re trying to get that under control, but at the same time we’re also trying to get the traffic under control.”

Roads in the area are closed and residents between Sigman Road and Interstate 20 have been asked to evacuate. Additionally, the highway is closed in both directions between Salem Road and Turner Hill. The sheriff said he would request assistance from the Georgia Department of Public Safety and the Georgia State Patrol.

Residents north of Sigman were asked to shelter in place and keep their windows closed.

Conyers Mayor Vince Evans urged residents who decide not to evacuate to stay put and not hike or drive around town.

“This is not the time for any kind of sightseeing. We strongly encourage everyone, no matter where you are from, but especially Rockdale residents, to stay away from this area,” Levett added.

Rockdale County Executive Oz Nesbitt told CNN’s Jessica Dean it was an “all hands on deck” situation.

“All of our resources have been deployed and deployed,” Nesbitt said. “Every agency available, GEMA, FEMA, everyone is on deck here in Rockdale County, we are managing this situation and trying to get it under control.”

Aside from homes and businesses in the area, a local hospital is also being evacuated, he said, and environmental safety officials are conducting air quality tests to determine whether the smoke contains toxins.

“We are not taking any risks,” the chairman added.

The roof of the chemical plant building has now collapsed and Nesbitt described the damage as a “complete collapse.”

Residents of neighboring Newton County also received an alert Sunday about the situation in Conyers.

“We are monitoring the situation and advise that if you smell chlorine, turn off your air conditioning units, turn on your ceiling fans and, if possible, bring your outdoor animals indoors,” the message said. “If you have trouble breathing or other medical emergencies, call 911. Right now, sheltering in place is the best option.”

In September 2020, BioLab experienced a “thermal decomposition event” that also resulted in a fire that temporarily closed Interstate 20.

In its final report on the incident, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board noted that high winds from Hurricane Laura damaged the laboratory’s warehouse and allowed rainwater to enter the building. The water came into contact with a chemical and triggered a reaction that caused the fire.

Conyers is about 30 miles east of Atlanta.

This is a developing story and will be updated.