The BioLab chemical plant in Conyers, Georgia, caught fire on Sunday; it was initially contained before a chemical reaction released a plume of toxic chemicals into the air, including chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. No injuries were reported from the fire, however most of the town of Conyers has been evacuated, which is estimated to be around 17,000 people. Another 90,000 in the surrounding Rockdale County were told to shelter in place.
A local area emergency was declared by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency at 10:59am this morning, stating that “chemical levels are unlikely to cause harm to most people.” The alert also advised residents: “if you have concerns, limit your time outdoors, close windows and turn off any ventilation systems.” A GEMA representative explained that the alert was sent out statewide, but is intended only for those within 50 miles of Rockdale County. Conyers is around 30 miles west of Atlanta, and 50 miles southwest of Athens.
People in neighboring counties like Gwinnet and Fulton are reporting strong chemical smells and haze likely coming from the plume, though county officials have stated that they have not seen “any levels of concerns” over air quality and are monitoring the situation. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the plume will likely be visible for days.
BioLab issued a statement yesterday on their website saying that they will “continue to work collaboratively with first responders and local authorities and have deployed specialized teams from out of state to the site to bolster and support their efforts.” The company also declared its commitment to “remediating the situation as rapidly as possible.” BioLab produces pool-cleaning products.
This is the third accident at the BioLab Conyers plant in 20 years, which was erected in 1973. On September 14th 2020, the plant exposed the local community to a similar, albeit smaller, fire, which also produced a chemical plume smelling of chlorine. No evacuation was made at that time, although the nearby I-20 highway was closed for 6 hours due to “dangerous vapors,” according to WSB-TV Atlanta. In 2004, a fire from the same warehouse did force the evacuation of hundreds of residents from the area, with local hospitals reporting that they had treated at least 9 people who suffered from irritation or had trouble breathing due to the chemicals.
Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt expressed concern with the pattern of accidents over the last two decades at BioLab, saying that this calls for “a different type of conversation with leadership and management” from the company. Nesbitt continued: “Biolab has been a corporate community partner to Rockdale County and the city of Conyers. However, public safety is paramount, so we will be having the necessary conversation with their leadership team about their safety and their mitigation plan and their security plan inside their operations.”
