by Some residents east of Atlanta were evacuated, while others were told to shelter in place to avoid contact with a chemical plume after a fire at a chemical plant.
Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel told reporters that a sprinkler head malfunctioned at the BioLab plant in Conyers around 5 a.m. Sunday. That caused water to mix with a water-reactive chemical, creating a plume of chemicals. The chef said she wasn’t sure what chemicals were in it.
A small roof fire was initially contained but flared up again Sunday afternoon, Sheriff Eric Levett said in a video on Facebook as gray smoke billowed into the air behind him. He said authorities were trying to control the fire and urged people to stay away from the area.
People in the northern part of Rockdale County were ordered to evacuate and others were told to shelter in place with windows and doors closed. Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Christine Nesbitt did not know how many people were evacuated.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division were both on scene, said Sharon Webb, the county’s Emergency Management director. The agencies are monitoring the sky “to give us a better idea of what the plume is made up of.”
McDaniel said crews were working to remove the chemical from the building, away from the water source. Once the product is contained, the situation will be assessed and officials will let residents know if it is safe to return to their homes, she said.
An evacuation center was opened at Wolverine Gym in Covington.
