A chemical fire at the BioLab facility in Conyers, Georgia, forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and led to significant road closures on Sunday. The fire broke out early in the morning, releasing toxic smoke and chemical fumes into the surrounding areas, prompting local officials to take swift action.
The blaze caused a dangerous chemical reaction, as the plant’s sprinkler system mixed with burning pool chemicals, worsening the situation. Firefighters worked to control the flames, using water despite knowing it would intensify the chemical reaction. Fortunately, there were no injuries among the employees working at the plant when the fire erupted.
Evacuation orders affected around 17,000 people, and authorities in neighboring counties urged residents to remain indoors if they smelled any chemical odors. A portion of Interstate 20, which runs adjacent to the plant, was closed for hours as smoke spread across the region.
This is not the first major fire at the BioLab plant. In 2004 and again in 2020, the facility experienced similar incidents, raising concerns about the safety of its operations. Residents are now calling on both local officials and BioLab to address these ongoing issues and ensure that future accidents do not pose such a significant threat.
As of Monday, some evacuation orders had been lifted, but many side streets remained closed, and the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this latest fire.
