CONYERS, Ga. — Rockdale County has lifted the county-wide shelter-in-place order after a chemical fire broke out at the BioLab facility in Conyers early Sunday morning, forcing more than 17,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
According to officials, the fire started when a malfunctioning sprinkler mixed water with chemicals in the facility, triggering a chemical reaction that caused flames to erupt on the roof. The fire sent a large plume of smoke and chlorine gas into the air, leading to air quality concerns around metro Atlanta.
A Lawrenceville resident, Tom Wilson, described experiencing symptoms like coughing and a scratchy throat as smoke from the fire reached his community, which is more than 20 miles away from the facility. He said the smoke “completely consumed” his neighborhood.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed that while low chlorine levels are still detectable, they are not considered a significant health risk for most people. Several counties, including Gwinnett, Fulton, and DeKalb, continue monitoring air quality. Residents are advised to stay indoors if they smell chemicals or are sensitive to respiratory irritants.
Although the fire is out, residual gases are still being released. Officials encourage residents, especially those with preexisting health conditions, to keep windows closed and limit outdoor activities until conditions improve.
In the afternoon Monday, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also later said that fire personnel had detected a "small faint amount of chlorine in the air" that was "not at exceeding levels... where humans can deal with it" and appeared to dissipate as the day progresses.
Here is the basic critical information:
- What's in the air: Federal EPA and state EPD testing have confirmed the presence of chlorine, Rockdale County said. What, if any, other chemicals might be involved has not been detailed.
- What direction is the plume going?: Rockdale County Government posted on Facebook around 4 a.m. that the plume is currently banking down and moving throughout the county but did not give a specific direction. A release Monday from the county described it as an "unpredictable path and wind direction."
- Shelter locations for those affected:
- The Rockdale County Government posted about shelter locations. Below is a list:
- 2484 Bruce St. Lithonia, 30058
- 218 Scout Road, Covington, 30016
- 3375 E Fairview Road SW, Stockbridge, 30281
- DeKalb County has opened a recreation center to assist displaced residents.
- The American Red Cross is accepting evacuees at Lucious Sanders Recreation Center, 2484 Bruce Street, Lithonia, beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
- DeKalb County Emergency Management has provided 200 cots.
- The Rockdale County Government posted about shelter locations. Below is a list:
- Interstate-20 has reopened: This took effect around 7 a.m. Monday
- Hotlines: For non-emergency situations, people are asked not to call 911. They are directed to the county EMA hotline at 770-278-8300 or the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 770-278-8200.
- Newton County Schools closed Tuesday: Newton County is directly southeast of Rockdale. The schools in Rockdale County are on fall break starting Monday. Georgia Piedmont Technical College campuses were also closed but are reopening Tuesday.
In a statement, a spokesperson for BioLab said representatives are "actively responding" to the situation. The spokesperson said employees "are accounted for with no injuries reported." BioLab said it has a team 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," the statement read.
11Alive will provide additional updates throughout the day on the situation:
Conyers chemical plume after BioLab fire; evacuations & shelter-in-place guidance
Latest updates | Tuesday, Oct. 1
7 a.m. | Rockdale has issued a new update as of 6:35: "We are aware and are assessing the situation. The plume has consistently shifted throughout the night. We ask that you shelter in place if the plume moves over your vicinity or if there is a strong odor of chlorine. If you have respiratory issues, we encourage you to shelter in place. We will provide an update as quickly as possible."
5 a.m. | Tuesday morning, Rockdale reported on Facebook that the plume was still present and moving through the county; residents were asked to continue to shelter in place if it passed over their area. Catch up with the latest in the video below:
Monday, Sept. 30
8:27 p.m. | Atlanta-Fulton County EMA posted an update on X, saying that Georgia Poison Control has created a dedicated hotline for this incident.
"If you have symptoms that may be related -- such as nose, throat or eye irritation or difficulty breathing -- call your health provider or the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6252."
The agency also said that weather conditions Monday night will be similar to last night.
7:56 p.m. | Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency is lifting its shelter-in-place recommendation and the evacuation zone for those who were impacted by the Conyers BioLab chemical fire. In the past 24 hours, readings from the EPA show that all average level readings are at .09, which is well below the action level of .5, according to a press release by Rockdale County. The water is also deemed safe in Rockdale County. The EPA said they will continue to monitor air readings.
6:39 p.m. | Newton County Schools announced it will be closed tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 1) for students and most staff. Meanwhile, all principals, central office employees, and 12-month personnel should report Tuesday in anticipation of a full return for everyone on Wednesday, Oct. 2.