BioLab chemical fire: Rockdale County residents demand action from state lawmakers

ATLANTA - Dozens of residents from Rockdale County spoke out Tuesday, urging state legislators to take immediate action following a fire at the BioLab chemical plant in Conyers that released harmful chemicals into the air. The fire, which broke out on Sept. 29, has left many locals dealing with health issues and forced some businesses to remain closed. 

"What do I say about BioLab? I don't want them as my neighbor anymore," one resident told the board during the meeting. 

At the Georgia Capitol, the Rockdale County and DeKalb County Legislative Delegations, alongside the House Minority Caucus, held a public forum to hear concerns from those impacted by the fire. Several residents voiced frustrations over lingering health concerns and a lack of trust in the company. 

"We're sorry that this event happened in the community," said Dexter Porter, BioLab’s community liaison, during the meeting. BioLab has since established a 24-hour call center to handle residents' questions and reimbursement requests. However, some locals remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the call center. "How am I supposed to trust that we shouldn't be at this point? This is multiple times that this has happened," one woman said, calling for an independent investigation. 

MORE: Shelter-in-place order remains in place for 2-mile radius around BioLab facility

State Rep. Rhonda Taylor, D-Conyers, who chairs the Rockdale County House Legislative Delegation, acknowledged the fears and uncertainties in the community. "I'm concerned. I'm still concerned," Taylor said. She emphasized the need for improved communication between BioLab, local officials, and the public, noting that the delegation plans to meet with both BioLab and Rockdale County leaders. "If the information came to us, then we could disseminate it throughout our districts as well," she said. 

Residents and business owners also called for BioLab to be relocated from the area, citing previous incidents. Kathy Atkins, a resident who attended the meeting, stressed the importance of better communication. "When you give people just a little bit of information, then you create a cloud of fear," she said. 

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Currently, crews are focused on clearing debris from the site to address the hazardous chemicals, including chlorine and hydrochloric acid, still present. A shelter-in-place order remains in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for those within a two-mile radius of the plant. 

State Sen. Tonya Anderson, D-Lithonia, affirmed the legislators’ readiness to listen. "We are ready to hear the concerns from the citizens of Rockdale County," she said. 

Rockdale County Schools remain on virtual learning until at least Oct. 18.

At a press conference on Monday, Rockdale County officials said that they understand that residents and business owners are frustrated by the situation, but they are obligated to do what they think is best to keep everyone safe.

"When the temperatures drop and dew sets in, it creates a plume at ground level that it’s more safe for the citizens to be in place at that time," Rockdale EMA Director Sharon Webb said, trying to explain the rationale for the new shelter-in-place advisory.

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners is also scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and may vote to enact a state of emergency for the county.

What happened at BioLab?

BioLab’s website says it is the swimming pool and spa water care division of Lawrenceville, Georgia-based KIK Consumer Products. The Conyers facility opened in 1973.

The fire started around 5 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, 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 the interstate 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.

Officials estimated the number of people forced to evacuate their homes was about 17,000.

During a press conference on the morning of Sept. 29, 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.

Since the fire, a plume of smoke has remained in the air, causing thick smoke to spread across nearby counties. Residents reported difficulty breathing, with some describing the smoke as "thick and heavy." Some noted that it left a noticeable taste and could be felt on the skin. "It almost looked like a whiteout condition," one resident said, describing how visibility dropped to as little as 10 to 15 feet.

"There is product under the building debris that is disturbed during the cleanup process," county officials said. "Until the cleanup is complete, there will be fluctuations in the plume."

History of incidents at BioLab

This is not the first fire to break out and cause serious health concerns at the plant.

In May 2004, a huge fire in a warehouse at the Conyers complex set off multiple explosions and prompted the evacuation of 300 people as a chlorine-laden cloud rolled through the area. The plume of green, gray and white smoke stretched 10 miles long. At least nine people went to hospitals with complaints of burning eyes and lungs.

After the explosion, the company agreed to a settlement of $7 million.

In June 2015, six Rockdale County firefighters were hurt in a fire at the complex, but none of the injuries were life-threatening, the Rockdale Citizen reported at the time. Another fire the following year prompted some voluntary evacuations near the plant.

In September 2020, a chemical fire at the same plant in Conyers prompted authorities to shut down both directions of Interstate 20 during the morning rush hour. Inside the plant, BioLab workers used forklifts to try and move chemicals away from decomposing chemicals to prevent the catastrophe, but their forklifts were sliding on the wet floor and fumes of chemicals were forming. Firefighters’ access to the situation was hindered by poorly stacked pallets of materials, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board later determined. Nine firefighters were evaluated at hospitals after inhaling hazardous vapors.

Multiple class action lawsuits have since been filed on behalf of residents of Rockdale County and the surrounding area.