BioLab fire: School and government office closures over air quality concerns

BioLab smoke clouds could last for days, officials say

Around 17,000 residents have been urged to evacuate and more have been required to shelter in place as a precaution due to the Conyers BioLab chemical fire that broke out Sunday morning. Officials say it could be a few days before the smoke clears up.

ATLANTA - Multiple metro Atlanta counties are making changes to school activities and governmental operations as a response to the fire at a Rockdale County chemical factory over the weekend.

Officials in Gwinnett and Fulton County say they are investigating reports of haze and chemical smells that could be caused by shifting winds around the chemical plume in Conyers.

Here are the latest closures and cancelations reported across metro Atlanta.

PHOTOS: Residents submit photos of ‘smoke’ after BioLab fire in Conyers

School changes and closures

Georgia Piedmont Technical College is closing its Newton and Rockdale campuses until further notice.

Newton County Schools are closed for Monday. While Rockdale County Public Schools are on fall break, all employees who were scheduled to work on Monday will work remotely.

In Fayette County, school officials say there will be no outside activity until Fayette County Emergency Services gives an all-clear. Afternoon activities have not been canceled at this time.

Gwinnett County Public Schools have canceled all outdoor activities and events and have stopped outside air from entering school buildings.

"Until the air quality improves, we encourage all families and staff to limit time outside, and keep windows and doors shut," a spokesperson for the Gwinnett County School system wrote in a statement.

Georgia Gwinnett College says that has stopped allowing outside air from coming into its buildings and is encouraging its students to limit outside activities.

"The National Weather Service says the smoke should start lifting by about noon," the university wrote on X. "Afternoon indoor classes and campus operations will continue as scheduled."

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