Residents of Conyers, Georgia, have been ordered to evacuate after a chemical plant caught on fire.
According to Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel, the fire was caused by a water-reactive chemical. “What we know is about 5 o’clock this morning, a sprinkler head malfunctioned, causing a mixture with a water-reactive chemical,” she told reporters on Sunday. “That chemical produced a plume that has been shifting north.”
It is unknown what chemicals are being released in the plume.
Representatives of the BioLab chemical facility, which produces pool chemicals, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “We are actively responding to an occurrence at our facility in Conyers, Georgia.”
“Our employees are accounted for with no injuries reported. Our team is on the scene, working with first responders and local authorities to assess and contain the situation,” the representative said. “As always, the safety of our community remains our top priority.”
The fire led to the closure of Interstate 20. “Be advised I-20 east and westbound are closed between Turner Hill Road and Salem Road,” the City of Conyers wrote on X. “Note the evacuation area map below. If you are in this area, please consider evacuating to a safe place.”
As of Monday morning, the I-20 was reopened.
Videos of the fire were shared on social media:
