The stay-at-home order was extended indefinitely after a fire at a chemical plant in Georgia sparked an unstoppable chemical reaction.
The order was issued for more than 90,000 Rockdale County residents after the fire at the BioLab in Conyers sent a huge plume of dark smoke into the sky that could be seen from miles away.
The fire was extinguished on Sunday, but authorities say air quality studies detected chlorine in the air leaving the laboratory.
BioLab manufactures pool and spa treatment products, including chlorine.
The Sunday afternoon fire prompted about 17,000 evacuations after a sprinkler at the facility failed and sprayed water onto a chemical, causing an explosion.
The order was issued for all of Rockdale County on Monday after the fire at BioLab in Conyers.
The Sunday afternoon fire prompted about 17,000 evacuations after a sprinkler at the facility failed and sprayed water onto a chemical, causing an explosion.
Air quality studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Environmental Protection Division “revealed irritating and harmful chlorine” detected in the air due to the BioLab plant fire in Conyers, Georgia, the county government said of Rockdale in a statement Monday morning.
“For everyone sheltering at home, best practice is to turn off the air conditioning and keep windows and doors closed,” the statement said about the accident that has affected the entire county.
Fire Chief Marian McDaniel said the smoke could linger for several days.
It’s unclear what health risks the smoke might pose.
The fire was brought under control around 4 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.
Interstate 20, which was closed in both directions in the area on Sunday, was reopened Monday morning, officials said.
The fire was brought under control around 4 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.
Fire Chief Marian McDaniel said smoke can linger for several days.
People in the northern part of Rockdale County, north of Interstate 20, were ordered to evacuate Sunday and others were told to shelter in place.
This is the second fire in the last decade at the facility. The laboratory experienced a “thermal decomposition event” that caused a fire in September 2020.
The building’s warehouse was damaged after strong winds from Hurricane Laura allowed rainwater to enter the building, which started the earlier fire, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board found.
A BioLab representative issued a statement saying, “Our employees are accounted for and no injuries have been reported.” “Our team is on 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.”