BioLab fire: Rockdale County nightly shelter-in-place order through Friday

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. - Rockdale County has instated a nightly shelter-in-place order after officials say the overnight weather could cause exposure to the plume of smoke and chemicals released after a fire at the BioLab facility in Conyers over the weekend.

On Tuesday morning, Rockdale County said the "plume is banking down and moving throughout the county."

"If you don't have to be outside, if you don't have to be on the roadways, stay home," said Rockdale County Commission Chair OZ Nesbitt. 

Nightly shelter-in-place order for Rockdale County

County officials are recommending a nightly outdoor curfew between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. to avoid direct exposure. The shelter-in-place is expected to be in place through Friday.

Residents should avoid having windows open and should turn off HVAC systems if they draw air from outside.

In addition, county officials are asking all residents who see or smell the gas cloud should shelter in place until the cloud moves.

"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," the Rockdale County government wrote on its website. "If you have respiratory issues, we encourage you to shelter in place. We will provide an update as quickly as possible."

EPA monitoring Rockdale County air, water quality

The Environmental Protection Agency is on scene and is monitoring air quality testing for the presence of chlorine and hydrochloric acid. Officials say the levels are low, and it's safe for most people, but the county says that air conditions will fluctuate throughout the day and evening. Being outdoors during daylight hours is generally safe, but those with pre-exisiting respiratory conditions should remain indoors. Those who need to conduct essential business or gather supplies, should do so during the day and remain vigilant about wind shifts. Due to evening atmospheric inversion, the plume is more likely to shift during nighttime hours. It is recommended that residents stay indoors after sundown and ensure emergency notifications are active on mobile devices.

"The level at which you can actually smell the chlorine in the air, which is what's happening right now, is actually below the level that actually causes a problem," said Dr. Lynn Paxton, interim director Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale Health District. 

The county also says that Rockdale County's drinking water remains safe. Water samples are being tested three times daily, and all results have returned to safe levels. Streams downstream from the Biolab facility do not feed into the Hanes Watershed, a source of the county’s drinking water.

"The new plan now is to bring in rolling containers to offload some of the product a little at a time it's a little slower process but much safer for the environment," said Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel. 

Rockdale County government offices, including the courthouse and annexes, will be closed for the remainder of the week.

Newton County Schools will open on a two-hour delay for students and staff.

The county's animal services has moved its shelter to Walton County temporarily, but is looking for foster and forever homes to help ease the burden.

Rockdale County roads closed

Multiple roads near the BioLab facility remain closed indefinitely. 

Here is a list as of Tuesday at 5 p.m. provided by Rockdale County:

• Old Covington Highway at Rockdale Industrial
• Kysor Crossing at Rockdale Industrial
• Old Covington Highway at Blacklawn
• Dogwood Drive at VFW
• Veterans Drive at VFW

Chemical plume causes haze across metro Atlanta

The fire and ongoing chemical reactions at the BioLab plant caused a significant stir throughout the area on Sunday and Monday. 

A plume of smoke continues to rise from chemical reactions in the burned sections of the plant, but the fire itself was extinguished on Sunday. The current plume is significantly smaller than the one seen over the weekend, which cast a shadow over much of the community. 

The effects of the fire were felt beyond Rockdale County. Residents across Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fulton, and other nearby counties reported seeing a haze and experiencing symptoms related to chemical irritants. 

Abby Mutic, an assistant professor at Emory School of Nursing, noted, "The eyes, the nose, the respiratory tract, the throat—some have cough with tightness of lungs, and some are experiencing shortness of breath." 

Air quality experts at Georgia Tech confirmed elevated levels of chlorine in the air. "We are indeed finding elevated levels of chlorine in the particulate matter," said Ted Russell, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the university. 

Despite these findings, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and county officials assured the public that the chlorine levels were not high enough to pose a serious threat to most people. "We’re not seeing levels that exceed our action thresholds, even for sensitive groups," said Bryan Vasser, on-scene coordinator for the EPA. 

"This morning, we were seeing from the various monitors a lot of values over 100 in terms of the Air Quality Index. And at this point, they're looking much more normal, sort of forties, fifties. So we've already seen it come down," Russell said. 

There also have been no signs of contamination to the county's water supply, according to the EPA.

Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel explained that the large plume of smoke seen by residents was due to a chemical reaction. Officials still have not identified the chemical responsible for the reaction, but an update on Monday morning said that the irritant chlorine was detected in the air emitting from the incident location of BioLab. Air quality tests have not detected unsafe levels of chlorine or hydrochloric acid. 

"We didn't see any concentrations of those chemicals in the air that would exceed an action level for us or that would seem unsafe to the public," Vasser said. 

The fire, which reignited Sunday afternoon, was extinguished. The fire caused the roof and several walls of the building to collapse, according to officials. Fire officials are now focused on removing remaining chemicals from the plant, a process that Chief McDaniel acknowledged has been slow but necessary to stop the smoke. Some materials were safely removed on Monday. 

"The primary area is the far end of the building where the product was stored," McDaniel said. "All walls, all areas around that have been knocked down, and we're working to get to the product so we can secure it and store it." 

Approximately 17,000 residents were evacuated on Sunday.

"It's way too early for us to say and make an announcement that we're going to shut this corporate partner down. We are concerned the conversations are very serious and they're very high level," said Nesbitt. 

RELATED: BioLab fire: What to know about chlorine

Residents remain concerned about chemical fire

Concerns remain high about the potential spread of harmful chemicals from the facility. 

Sharon Banan, who lives about 10 miles from the site, described the uncertainty of the past few days as stressful. 

"It's been a panic because it's been kind of touch and go," Banan said. "We've had the plume come over the house, we've had the fog settle. I do have a couple of options that would allow me to get [my horses] out if I need to." 

Many locals are still uncertain about how long the situation will last. Juanita Woodson, another nearby resident, expressed frustration about the lack of information. 

"We're just like waiting for updates, trying to see what's happening, how long do we have to stay inside, like what's really going on," Woodson said. 

In Fulton County, officials say they are investigating numerous reports of haze and chemical smells they believe are connected to the fire. Officials say concerned residents should stay inside, keep windows and doors closed, and do not use air conditioners or other ventilation systems.

BioLab facility's future

The Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency added that chlorine has a low odor threshold, meaning residents may continue to smell it even at safe levels. The chemical reaction responsible for the current plume will persist until crews can clear the collapsed building and remove the remaining chemicals. 

"I live only a mile away from the place," said Michael LeBlanc. 

As of Monday evening, air quality levels were continuing to decline, but the situation has raised long-term concerns. This is not the first time BioLab has faced scrutiny. Previous fires at the pool chemical company have also led to evacuations and health concerns. A petition with over 1,500 signatures is now circulating, calling for the plant to be shut down. 

LeBlanc supports the effort, stating, "I would definitely be in favor of saying, you guys got to move your business somewhere else—maybe where there’s not so much public around in case something bad happens like this again." 

He had to evacuate his home in Conyers Sunday after the fire at Biolab sent a plume of chemicals into the air. He stayed at a friend’s house but went back Monday to try and retrieve some possessions he needed.  

"Going back there today and heading into the fog, the weird, yellowish, whitish fog, as we were heading in there, my head start playing games with me and I started to feel a cough. We even had masks on because we had to go pick up stuff. We didn't realize how long this was going to take. I'm feeling a tickle that's right here. You know, it hasn't really gone away," LeBlanc said.  

He hopes it’s just his anxiety, but he’s not the only one reporting symptoms from the smoke plume.  This is not the first or even second time a fire at the pool chemical company has caused evacuations and health concerns. Most recently, the Chemical Safety Board says firefighters were exposed to dangerous fumes during a September 2020 incident. 

There’s now a petition with at least 1,800 signatures calling for the plant to be shut down.  

"I would definitely be in favor of saying, ‘you guys got to move your business somewhere else.’ Maybe not where there's not so much public around in case something bad happens like this again," LeBlanc said.  

FOX reached out to Biolab asking for an interview to answer important questions about the plant. They didn’t respond to our request but did issue this statement Monday evening:  

"Our top priority remains ensuring the community’s safety. We are grateful to the partnership with first responders and local and federal authorities as we together work non-stop to remediate the ongoing situation at our Conyers, Georgia facility. We have made significant progress throughout the day, assisted by the deployment of out-of-state specialist support, and note Rockdale County’s announcement tonight ending the shelter in place advisory effective immediately. Air emissions are being actively monitored at the site and in the community by state, local, and federal authorities and we are supporting the efforts of local authorities as part of the Unified Command response to the incident." 

What happened at BioLab?

The fire initially started around 5 a.m. on Sunday when a sprinkler malfunction caused water to come into contact with a water-reactive chemical. BioLab employees and nearby residents were evacuated, and several roads were closed, including Interstate 20 in both directions between Salem Road and Turner Hill. The interstate remained closed until early Monday morning. 

Residents north of I-20 between Sigman Road and I-20 were within the evacuation zone, while those south of I-20 were deemed safe. Local officials, including Conyers Mayor Vince Evans and Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett, urged residents not to enter the evacuation zone for safety reasons.

During a Sunday morning press conference, officials explained that the fire began when a malfunctioning sprinkler released water onto a reactive chemical, causing a small fire and a large plume of smoke. Though the initial fire was controlled around noon, it reignited as chemicals were being removed from the building. The fire was fully extinguished between 4 and 5 p.m.

Authorities are still working to determine when residents can safely return home.

Officials are also telling residents that this is not the time for sightseeing.

"If you choose not to evacuate, please do not get out and ride around and just take videos of what's going on!" said Conyers Mayor Vince Evans. "Stay in place. Stay put. Either leave or stay, but don't be wandering out in the city."

"This is not the time to do any type of sightseeing," said Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett. "We are strongly encouraging everyone, no matter where you're coming from, but especially Rockdale residents, to stay out of this area for the safety of yourself, and for the safety of all personnel that are out here already that have to work this type of incident."

Piedmont Rockdale Hospital evacuates patients

By late Sunday afternoon, Piedmont Rockdale Hospital began evacuating some patients due to the fire. Rockdale County District Attorney Alisha A. Johnson also announced the closure of the courthouse and her office on Monday.

Sheriff Levett noted that emergency response resources were stretched thin due to ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, with many agencies assisting in Augusta.

Authorities urged residents to avoid calling 911 for non-emergencies, as lines are overloaded. Rockdale County Animal Services also reminded evacuees not to leave pets behind.

Operations were allowed to resume and hospital officials say they continue to follow follow guidance from the Georgia Emergency Management, Georgia Department of Public Health and EPA.

Resources stretched thin

Sheriff Levett also noted on Sunday that many of the agencies that would typically offer large-scale assistance during this sort of event are already being stretched thin due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Many of them, according to the sheriff, are helping out in Augusta.

BioLab, a division of KIK Consumer Products, issued a statement confirming that all employees are safe and that the company is working with first responders to assess and contain the situation. 

"Our top priority is ensuring the community’s safety, and our teams are working around-the-clock to respond to the ongoing situation at our facility in Conyers, Georgia. We 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. We are all focused on remediating the situation as rapidly as possible."

History of incidents at BioLab

Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDonald said during a press conference on Sunday that this was the 3rd event of this magnitude in the 7 years that she has been with the county. She also said there have been several smaller incidents. 

A fire broke out at the same location in 2020. That fire also shut down Interstate 20 for several hours. 

RELATED: Major chemical fire shuts down parts of I-20, other roads

Before that, there was a major incident in 2016.

RELATED: Crews battle Covington Highway BioLab fire

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates. 

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