ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — A large chemical fire in Rockdale County has forced tens-of-thousands of people to be placed under an evacuation on Sunday.
Officials estimated that nearly 17,000 people were in the zone. Scores more in the entire county have been told to shelter in place until midnight. The exact number of people who have evacuated is currently unknown.
According to officials, the fire was sparked after a sprinkler malfunctioned around 5 a.m. at the BioLab facility off Old Covington Road and reacted with a "water-reactive chemical." However, officials have not given specifics on what exactly that chemical is. It then reignited again around noon, but that fire has since been put out.
The facility makes pool and spa treatments, and the chemicals involved in that process appeared to exacerbate the fire -- as what looked like huge smoke clouds could be seen in the area. A plume continues to rise from the area because water reacts with chemicals at the site. Crews are working to remove those chemicals.
With evacuations underway, many people are questioning when they can go home.
When will people who evacuated be able to go home?
Authorities have not given a timeframe for when people affected would be allowed to go home after being evacuated. Although the fire is out, the Environmental Protection Agency still needs to do testing before county officials can give the all-clear.
For context, back in 2004, the BioLab in Conyers experienced a similar fire. According to an NBC News report, the fire happened at a warehouse, though it's not immediately clear if that building was repaired or rebuilt and caught fire again Sunday, or if it is perhaps a distinct building from the current situation.
The news organization reported at the time that the fire caused hundreds of residents to evacuate. A 1.5-mile radius was reported as the evacuation zone, and authorities said chlorine was one of the chemicals involved. In terms of the evacuations, United Press International reported residents were able to return home the next day.
Fires at the facility also broke out in 2016 and 2020, according to previous reporting by 11Alive. For the 2016 fire, those evacuated were given the all-clear only a few hours later.
The severity of this incident is more aligned with what happened in 2004, so it wouldn't be surprising if it took a day or longer for people to return to their homes.
11Alive will share updates when we know people will be able to go home.