This page contains archived news from the BioLab chemical fire. Follow continued updates here.
Rockdale County residents, especially those with respiratory problems, are advised to shelter in place every evening and early morning until Friday, as a large cloud of smoke from a Conyers chemical plant fire moves into their vicinity.
The county, with a population of more than 90,000, had been told to shelter in place after the fire broke out Sunday. About 17,000 of those people were placed under evacuation orders in Conyers.
Authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order at 7:45 p.m. Monday. Officials then advised residents to hunker down again early Tuesday if winds pushed the plume overhead. By Tuesday afternoon, officials recommended that residents shelter in place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. until Friday.
Clouds and haze are expected to linger in Conyers following the fire that raised concerns about air quality across metro Atlanta and Georgia and has already led to several lawsuits from residents. Rockdale County government offices will be closed the entire week. On Tuesday, Newton County Schools remained closed.
[8:25 p.m.]: Georgia Poison Control has received more than 330 calls from people reporting symptoms related to the BioLab fire and chemical release, executive director Dr. Gaylord Lopez told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
More than 70 other calls came from people with a wide range of questions about the chemical blame and smoky haze: Are my pets safe? (Pets are also susceptible.) I am pregnant; are there any special precautions I should take? (Generally speaking, pregnant women are more susceptible to the effects of irritant gas and should limit their time outdoors. They should also consult with their OB-GYN for more guidance.)
On Tuesday alone, the emergency information service received 257 symptom-related calls and an additional 28 calls with general questions about the wafting chemicals. That’s more than the total volume for an average day of about 250 calls. Georgia Poison Control had to pay staff overtime to double the number of staffers taking calls.
“Fortunately, the exposure to the gas has been minimal, producing very expected symptoms that, for the most part, are not life threatening. We have not had anyone speak of severe symptoms like severe wheezing or an allergic reaction when your throat swells up. No one has been respiratory distress,” said Lopez, who is a medical toxicologist. “Most of the calls we are handling are from the walking worried who have minor symptoms and they are usually short-lived and resolve on their own.”
The most common complaints include skin irritation, watery eyes and nausea. Some people have complained about chest tightness and slight difficulty in breathing. Lopez said most people can recover at home and expect symptoms to subside over the coming days, if not sooner. He added that Georgia Poison Control has recommended only a handful of people — particularly those with underlying conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — get checked out by a health care provider. The Georgia Poison Control hotline is 404-856-6252.
— Staff writer Helena Oliviero
[8 p.m.]: Daniel Blackman, former Region 4 administrator for the EPA, advised locals during a presentation hosted by the Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund to document any symptoms they may experience as a result of the plume.
“Make sure you’re documenting it internal, whether it’s with a journal or however else, seek out a physician make sure you keep up with your medical records, because it’s going to be important as we get more data ... (so) you are aware and accountable to what where you and your family are, and how you’re able to get some type of recourse, or to even know what steps you can take to further protect your lungs, your health and your respiratory system,” Blackman said.
Former state representative Erick Allen added that locals may eventually be questioned by regulatory agencies or may want to take part in a lawsuit, and documenting symptoms for the next few days, weeks, months and even years may come in handy.
[7 p.m.]: Georgia Tech professor Nga Lee “Sally” Ng explained during a presentation hosted by the Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund that data collected at an ASCENT site in DeKalb County showed a peak in chlorine-containing particles, organic-containing particles and PM 2.5 on Monday morning. ASCENT is a real-time, “ground-based aerosol measurement network in the U.S.” and is funded by the National Science Foundation, said Ng, who serves on ASCENT’s management team.
“Chlorine itself is an irritant. So if you breathe in higher levels of chlorine, then it can irritate your lungs and throat and mouth,” Ng said, adding that chlorine particles found in the air at the DeKalb site remained lower than EPA standards.
[5:06 p.m.]: As metro Atlantans try to determine if the air outside is safe to breathe, even pollution experts say the situation and the communication from officials have left them befuddled.
Roby Greenwald, an associate professor at Georgia State University who studies the health effects of air pollution, said that, like many others, he first learned there could be toxins in the air Monday, when he began receiving messages from contacts who noticed a strange odor.
Greenwald said that after checking air monitoring apps Tuesday morning, he felt safe riding his bike to work. Still, he noted that the air monitoring stations around the city, maintained by the state, universities and private companies, which feed those apps, are designed to measure things like particle pollution — not chlorine-based compounds, which require specialized equipment to detect.
”I feel like I’m in a little bit of an information vacuum,” Greenwald said.
He added that he still has questions about what exactly the BioLab fire sent into the air, but noted that if people can smell chlorine, that’s generally a sign there may be high concentrations in the area and that they should avoid outdoor activity. On the other hand, the absence of an odor doesn’t necessarily mean “you’re in the clear.”
”The human nose is not exactly the most sensitive piece of diagnostic equipment we have,” he said.
— Staff writer Drew Kann
[4:40 p.m.]: Rockdale County is recommending that residents shelter in place starting Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. until Friday.
Officials said due to weather and inversion during the evening and early morning hours, “air quality readings may dip to concerning levels for those in direct exposure to the plume.”
[4:30 p.m.]: So far, public agencies say their air quality testing has not detected concentrations that would pose safety concerns to the general public, but they have advised residents of Rockdale and nearby counties to shelter indoors if they see or smell the plume.
The health effects from an exposure to the chemicals will be strongly influenced by the amount of the chemicals a person inhales and their individual health status, according to Jeremy Sarnat, an associate professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and member of a scientific committee that advises the EPA.
In the case of the BioLab incident, officials have warned that the amount of “smoke” and chlorine compounds in the air may shift hour-to-hour based on wind direction. It may be difficult to know how much exposure a person is receiving.
— Staff writers Helena Oliviero and Laura Weaver compiled a list of the basics for staying safe. Read that here.
[4 p.m.]: Amy Hudson’s 10-year-old son Lauder woke up in the early morning hours Tuesday with a bloody nose and red-rimmed eyes. Hudson stepped outside of their home in Morgan County, which neighbors Rockdale County, only to be hit with the strong smell of chlorine.
“It was so hazy I could barely see our light on this side of the house,” Hudson said. “When you go outside and you see that, and your eyes burn, and your lungs burn immediately, and your throat hurts, and your son wakes up with a bloody nose and red eyes, you don’t know what to do other than leave, because you cannot shelter in place, not knowing if that’s safe while the plume is out there.”
Hudson and her husband, Bryan Wang, packed up their three kids and began looking for a hotel far away from the plume’s reach. Many hotels were booked, she said, and after two hours of searching online in the middle of the night, they began the drive to Birmingham, Alabama.
Another mother, Bobby Jo Greaver-Machic, lives closer to the BioLab plant but can’t evacuate the area because her husband still had to go to work Tuesday. She and her 3-year-old son both have itchy eyes and a burning sensation in their noses from the haze. She said she has also experienced nausea and a headache since Monday.
“It doesn’t feel good to breathe this stuff in. It hurts. It makes your head hurt. It’s hard to breathe in it,” Greaver-Machic said. “I just want my community to be safe. I want my son to be safe.”
— Read the full story by staff writer Taylor Croft here.
[3:42 p.m.]: Officials in Atlanta said the BioLab fire had resulted in chlorine smells within city limits, and authorities are continuing to monitor the situation. The Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department is conducting daily air quality testing in areas along the I-20 corridor near Candler Road, Flat Shoals Road, Moreland Avenue and surrounding areas closest to Rockdale County, and westward through Atlanta.
“Test results continue to yield readings at zero, indicating no threats to life safety. We continue to await comprehensive health guidance from the agencies responsible for public health and environmental health — the Fulton County Board of Health, the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division,” city officials said.
For residents worried about air quality, the city recommends staying indoors, keeping windows and doors closed, turning off ventilation systems that draw in outside air, and consulting a doctor.
[3:21 p.m.]: Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency Director Sharon Webb made the decision to issue and lift the shelter-in-place advisories based on information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, county spokesperson Melisa Mims said.
The county lifted the shelter-in-place advisory at 7:45 p.m. Monday but sent an alert at 3:49 a.m. Tuesday stating, “If the cloud moves over your vicinity, please shelter in place until the cloud moves out.” A 6:35 a.m. alert on social media added, “If you have respiratory issues, we encourage you to shelter in place.” Mims declined to say why the county lifted the shelter-in-place order Monday night, given the possibility that winds could change.
The county reiterated these statements after a 10 a.m. news conference, adding, “Being outdoors during daylight hours is generally safe, but those with pre-existing respiratory conditions should remain indoors. If you need to conduct essential business or gather supplies, 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.”
Mims said the shelter-in-place alert is a recommendation for people with especially vulnerable respiratory systems.
”The smell will probably be there,” Mims explained. “It’s up to each individual person because the contaminants are not at a level that Rockdale County deems harmful, or EPD.”
— Staff writer Alia Pharr
[2:05 p.m.] Residents have filed the first lawsuits seeking damages for the more than 90,000 people affected by Sunday’s chemical plant fire in Conyers.
At least six complaints were lodged Monday against BioLab, the company that owns the factory, and its Lawrenceville-based parent company, KIK Consumer Products. The lawsuits, filed in Gwinnett County State Court, Rockdale County Superior Court and the federal district court in Atlanta, focus on health and property-related issues tied to emergency evacuation and shelter-in-place orders.
“What’s especially egregious is that the defendants have been here before — having exposed this community in a similar fashion over the past 20 years,” said Daniel Flynn, an attorney representing Rockdale residents Fannie and Albert Tartt in a federal complaint. “The defendants, not the community, should bear the costs of the defendants’ conduct.”
Representatives for BioLab and KIK did not immediately comment on the lawsuits. In a written statement on Monday, KIK said the community’s safety is its top priority.
— Read the full story by staff writers Rosie Manins and Savannah Sicurella here.
[1:55 p.m.] Rockdale County government offices, including the courthouse and annexes, will be closed the entire week “in the interest of public safety,” officials said Tuesday.
[1:15 p.m.] Morgan County officials on Tuesday morning said the plume had moved southeast toward Madison. The county emergency management agency received reports of “the smell of chlorine in the air and a haze.” State and federal agencies are conducting tests and monitoring the air, officials posted to Facebook.
“GEMA is advising that if you notice a chlorine odor in the air to limit your time outdoors, close your windows and doors, and turn off any ventilation systems that bring in outside air,” the post said.
Residents throughout Morgan County and the cities of Rutledge and Buckhead also took to social media to report a strong smell of chlorine, hazy air and a burning sensation in their eyes, nose and lungs.
— Staff writer Taylor Croft
[12:50 p.m.] The Environmental Equity Information Institute’s founder, Dr. Femi Adesanya, and its executive director, Louise C. Palmer, held a news conference at the organization’s offices in DeKalb County to discuss its findings on air quality. Palmer said that around 8 a.m. Monday, her team noticed a thick haze in the sky outside their offices.
“It was concerning. We could smell it, we could taste it, we could certainly see it,” she said.
The environmental group decided to use a custom-made, solar-powered air monitor called the ICAM800 to test the air quality outside and get a real-time reading of particulate matter pollution.
According to Palmer, over the course of 30 minutes, the air readings “dramatically increased,” peaking at 68.8 micrograms per cubic meter.
“Our offices are 20 miles away from the BioLab facility in Conyers, and yet we were seeing rates of PM 2.5 greater than the recommended EPA level of nine micrograms per cubic meter. The EPA states that anything over nine micrograms per cubic meter is dangerous to health,” she said.
She suggested officials protect vulnerable communities by setting up what she called “community resilience centers” equipped with adequate ventilation if they lacked the means to protect themselves inside their homes. In the meantime, she advised people at risk to stay indoors, buy a HEPA air purifier and check air quality through the EPA’s AirNow mobile app.
— Staff writer Matt Reynolds
[12:10 p.m.] Cobb County requested that GEMA conduct air quality tests for chlorine and hydrogen chloride near Truist Park on Monday. The results came back all clear, county spokesman Ross Cavitt said. The county has also not received any reports of poor air quality or negative health impacts, he added.
— Staff writer Taylor Croft
[12:05 p.m.] A school-aged patient was seen Tuesday morning at Conyers pediatrics for coughing and burning eyes, symptoms related to exposure to the chemicals. The child, who was born prematurely and is suffering from a chronic lung condition, is particularly vulnerable to polluted air.
Dr. Hugo Scornik, a pediatrician at Conyers pediatrics who has led the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Georgia chapter, said he is especially concerned about children with asthma and other lung diseases.
“It’s infuriating, especially since this has happened several times before,” he said in a text. “This has affected numerous vulnerable children and adults in this area. Lots of concerns, as well as from pregnant mothers. You can still smell it in the air.”
Scornik said he thinks the child will be “fine,” and was given treatment not specific to chlorine exposure, but declined to share more information due to privacy concerns. The practice is posting information and advice for patients on its Facebook page.
— Staff writer Helena Oliviero
[11:25 a.m.] Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt assured concerned residents at a Tuesday morning news conference that “we are on top of this situation.”
He said he visited the BioLab site at around 2:30 a.m. accompanied by fire Chief Marian McDaniel and the company’s leaders.
“We will be entering into some serious conversations with the corporate leadership of BioLab in the days ahead. The immediate response is about how to get this situation continuously under control,” Nesbitt said.
After clearing debris from the plant, McDaniel said crews were getting ready to move a product identified as pool shock, which is used to sanitize pools, around 1 a.m. when they determined the “super sacks” that contained the product had disintegrated. McDaniel said they had to revise their plan on how to offload the product, which was still off-gassing Tuesday. The work will now take longer, she said.
Nesbitt acknowledged the situation was impacting a large portion of metro Atlanta. He said it could take the rest of the week for the incident to be completely resolved.
“We will be coming back to you with periodic updates as we continue to move throughout today and the remainder of this incident, which could very well be the remainder of this week,” Nesbitt said.
There was a shift in the weather conditions overnight and Nesbitt expected another weather shift tonight. Rick Jardine, on-scene coordinator for the EPA, said the agency was increasing air monitoring stations.
Those with preexisting conditions, such as respiratory problems, are most likely to develop symptoms from exposure, said Dr. Lynn Paxton, the interim health director for the Gwinnett County, Newton County and Rockdale Health Center.
Residents in the area of the haze should limit exposure by staying indoors with closed windows and doors, and turn off any HVAC system that can pull in outdoor air. N-95 masks are unlikely to provide any benefit, Paxton said, because the chlorine compounds are small and can get through the filter.
“The level in which you can smell the chlorine in the air, which is happening right now, is actually lower than the level that causes a problem,” she added.
Still, anyone with symptoms should seek emergency care. Those with non-emergency symptoms can call the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6252.
[8:30 a.m.] All Rockdale County offices will be closed Tuesday, county officials said.
[8:10 a.m.] Atlanta Fire and Rescue is conducting more air quality testing in Atlanta on Tuesday.
[6:50 a.m.] Rockdale County authorities said they are aware that the smoke plume is constantly shifting and said they are assessing the situation.
“We ask that you shelter in place if the plume moves over your vicinity or if there is a strong odor of chlorine,” officials said. “If you have respiratory issues, we encourage you to shelter in place. We will provide an update as quickly as possible.”
[6 a.m. Tuesday] While the shelter-in-place order in Rockdale County has been lifted, officials are warning that the plume “is banking down and moving throughout the county” due to weather conditions Tuesday morning.
“If the cloud moves over your vicinity, please shelter in place until the cloud moves out,” authorities said in a news release.
[ 8:45 p.m.] BioLab issued a statement acknowledging the Rockdale County government’s decision to lift their shelter-in-place and evacuation orders. The company said it was grateful to first responders and federal authorities, and said its “top priority remains ensuring the community’s safety.”
“We have made significant progress throughout the day, assisted by the deployment of out-of-state specialist support,” a company representative said. “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.”
The City of Atlanta shared a statement from Georgia’s Department of Public Health that said “no significant toxicity has been identified in the smoke” from the BioLab fire. However, the DPH also recommended that citizens avoid the smoke by closing windows and doors in their house and not running the air conditioner.
[8:15 p.m.] Rockdale County lifted its shelter-in-place order at about 8 p.m. Monday night. The order, which included an evacuation zone, had been indefinitely extended earlier in the day. Rockdale is home to about 90,000 people.
County officials said the average air quality readings for the past 24 hours were well within the range of safety. The Rockdale water authority has also deemed the water safe for consumption.
Despite the declarations of safety, Rockdale citizens may still see clouds or haze in the air.
“Citizens can expect to continue to see clouds until (it is) fully dissipated,” officials said in a statement Monday night.
The county courthouse and most county facilities will reopen Tuesday for their normal operating hours. The exception is Johnson Park on Ebenezer Road, which is about two miles directly south of the BioLab facility and will remain closed.
“Businesses in Rockdale County can proceed as normal,” officials said.
[6:55 p.m.]: Newton County Schools and its offices will be closed Tuesday for students and most staff, officials said. Principals, 12-month employees, and central office staff should still plan to report to work anticipation of a full return for everyone Wednesday. The schools were closed Monday because of the size of the evacuation area and the closure of I-20.
[6:30 p.m.]: A BioLab representative released a statement Monday night about the ongoing situation at the plant, saying that “significant progress” had been made throughout the day.
“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,” the company representative said. “We have made significant progress throughout the day, assisted by the deployment of out-of-state specialist support. 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.”
[6:10 p.m.]: Before heading to work Monday, Matthew Todd checked out the official City of Atlanta account on the social media app X, looking for any updates or air-quality advisories following Sunday’s massive chemical fire 20 miles east in Conyers.
“I read about the fire, saw the pictures, of course, and immediately thought, well, that’s not that far away,” said Todd, who was concerned about Day 2 impacts following the fire at BioLab, a plant that treats pool and spa water.
The potential health hazards initially scared Todd, so he checked online around 7:30 a.m. Monday for any advisories. There were none.
And so despite seeing a gray haze in the sky and the distinct smell of chlorine in the air, he hopped on his bike and made the 3-mile trek from his home in Kirkwood to his office in downtown Atlanta.
“I am very much one of those people where if I am told it’s safe or if I am told it’s not safe, I listen,” the 30-year-old said, explaining he figured silence meant it was OK. “If it was super important, they’d be telling me.”
— Read the full story by staff writer Allie Gross here
[5:30 p.m.]: Georgia Piedmont Technical College will be open for normal business hours on Tuesday, officials said. Its Rockdale, Clarkston, Lithonia and Newton campuses were all closed Monday due to the fire.
“The EPA is monitoring air quality and chemical levels (which) are unlikely to cause harm to most people,” a Georgia Piedmont spokesperson said in a statement.
[5 p.m.]: The EPA has conducted air quality testing in Rockdale County and deemed the air safe, according to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.
“Another reading will be conducted around 5 p.m., and all agencies have been advised that a decision will be made around 6 p.m. regarding how to proceed with returning to the affected areas,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook.
Earlier Monday, the sheriff’s office said it hadn’t “experienced significant impacts” in Newton County from the fire and that a shelter-in-place order wasn’t necessary in Newton.
“Should conditions change, we will inform the public,” deputies said.
[4:45 p.m.]: Jennette Gayer, director of Environment Georgia, which advocates for clean air, water and action against climate change, said the incident in Conyers “raise important concerns that require action.”
The organization supported a so-called “Bad Actor Bill” last legislative session that would have barred companies with repeated environmental violations out of state from receiving emissions permits in Georgia.
“First, the Georgia General Assembly should reintroduce, strengthen, and pass ‘Bad Actor’ legislation in the next session that would block companies with a dangerous track record from receiving permits to pollute in Georgia,” she said in a statement. “Second, we need to make sure our state and federal environmental agencies have the resources they need to hold polluting companies to account. This kind of toxic exposure is not acceptable.”
— Read the full story by staff writers Kelly Yamanouchi and Dylan Jackson here.
[4:20 p.m.]: During a press conference late Monday afternoon, Bryan Vasser, EPA on-scene coordinator, said they didn’t see any concerning concentration of chemicals, which included chlorine and hydrochloric acid, in Rockdale.
“We didn’t see any concentrations of those chemicals in that air that would seem unsafe to the public,” Vasser said following recent air quality testing.
Officials said another update would be provided later tonight. The shelter-in-place and evacuation orders are still active.
[4 p.m.]: Oz Nesbitt, chairman of the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners, talks about the Conyers chemical plant.
[3:20 p.m.]: Georgia Tech professor Sally Ng is part of an effort to measure air quality in real time. Typically, environmental agencies may collect air samples once a day and evaluate them in a lab, she said. The Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT), samples the air once every hour — or even every minute — to measure particles in the atmosphere.
That’s how Ng knows that there was a major spike in the amount of chlorine particles in the air this morning in Decatur, between the Conyers fire and downtown Atlanta. At 9 a.m., the system documented a 1,400-times increase in the amount of chlorine-containing particles in the air, and a 170-times increase in the amount of bromine-containing particles in the air. Typically, there is very little of either element in the air, Ng said.
Chlorine and bromine are both irritants that can cause respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness and eye irritation depending on the amount someone is exposed to and their own health, according to the CDC.
County and state officials were still measuring the air quality by 2:30 p.m. Monday. Officials from several different agencies maintained throughout the day that they had not identified “significant toxicity,” and that there were no immediate safety concerns. But the situation is an example of why traditional monitoring efforts need to be updated, Ng said: “It’s time to modernize our country’s air quality measurement network.”
— Staff writer Cassidy Alexander
[3:10 p.m.]: Crews were tackling hot spots with water and removing debris Monday at the Conyers plant, where the roof and several walls collapsed from the fire, according to Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel.
“Once we get all that debris removed, we will focus on bringing down the exterior wall on the D side of the structure, which is about eight inches thick of concrete,” the chief said.
The materials off-loaded Sunday before the fire reignited have been placed in a secure facility on the property, McDaniel said. The remaining product will be removed once the rest of the building is brought down. She noted that the product, which was not publicly identified, had already reached its highest exothermic level.
“What that means is that there is nothing that we can do or will be done to make this product worse than it already is,” the chief noted. “So it is off-gassing but once we can get it removed from the building and the water source and (placed) in a secure area, then we will see a better diminishing of the clouds and smoke.”
[2:40 p.m.]: Mayor Andre Dickens said air quality testing by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department on Monday found a small amount of chlorine in the air.
“It’s not at ‘exceeding’ levels,” Dickens said when asked about Atlanta’s air quality during a press conference. “It’s not at levels that exceed where humans can deal with it.”
Still, the mayor advised residents who are immunocompromised to stay indoors or wear a mask as a precaution.
— Staff writer Martha Dalton
[2:15 p.m.]: Gwinnett officials said there are no concerns over the air quality there, and authorities are continuing to monitor levels of chlorine and hydrochloric acid (HCI).
Bryan Vasser, EPA on-scene coordinator, said officials have not seen “any levels of concerns” that would warrant a shelter-in-place order in Gwinnett County.
Gwinnett Water Resources Assistant Director Charlie Roberts said the fire has not impacted the county’s water supply and it continues to be safe to drink. Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services Chief Fred Cephas said they are monitoring the situation and have received more than 150 calls from concerned citizens related to the fire.
“We do have a hazardous material team that did their own monitoring throughout the county and found no areas of concern, so that put us at ease,” Cephas said.
— Staff writer Jozsef Papp
[2:10 p.m.]: With no current air quality advisories in Gwinnett County from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, after-school activities and events will continue as scheduled Monday, according to Gwinnett County Public Schools. Parents and students were still asked to check with their local schools, as some may have canceled activities “based on local conditions,” officials said.
The Gwinnett district said it plans to have a normal schedule Tuesday.
— Producer Jessica Horne
[2 p.m.]: Inter Atlanta FC — Atlanta’s largest inner-city youth soccer club, with more than 3,000 players —notified caregivers, players and staff in a notice sent just before 2 p.m. that it is canceling all practices scheduled for Monday, citing the air quality concerns.
“With the safety of our players and staff in mind, we are canceling all practices today,” the message said.
— Staff writer Drew Kann
[1:45 p.m.]: The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency issued a public safety alert Monday afternoon in metro Atlanta detailing a “local area emergency” due to the BioLab fire. The alert was issued on behalf of the Environmental Protection Division and stated the EPA was monitoring air quality for chlorine and related compounds.
“Chemical levels are unlikely to cause harm to most people,” the alert stated.
A GEMA representative said the alert went out statewide but it only affects anyone within 50 mile radius of Rockdale County.
[1:30 p.m.]: Mario Greer lives in Chicago, but he was staying with family in Conyers when the BioLab blaze started on Sunday. It was the second time he’s visited Conyers when the facility burned. He also was in town in 2020 when a fire disrupted Rockdale County.
He said the smoke was much lower during the 2020 blaze than it was this time.
“You sell pool chemicals,” Greer said. “What chemicals do you have that aren’t supposed to touch water? Why is that in the building? I don’t get that at all.”
— Staff writer Savannah Sicurella
[1:10 p.m.]: The city of Atlanta on Monday afternoon said it has been conducting air quality tests after receiving reports of smells “as far as East Point, College Park, Dekalb County, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and beyond.”
The air quality tests by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department involved drones and handheld monitors and focused on “potential volatile organic compounds, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, and carbon monoxide levels,” according to the city.
“Based on the latest tests, no immediate life safety issues have been identified,” the city stated. “The haze observed earlier is also beginning to clear from the city.”
The tests were conducted west from Candler Road to Moreland Avenue. They take five minutes or less and focus on identifying immediate life-threatening conditions. Officials also tested other areas of Atlanta and said that all results have “come back within acceptable levels.”
“In addition to AFRD’s efforts, we have requested further testing from the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) around AFRD stations 4, 13, 12, and 18. The City of Atlanta is also awaiting guidance from the Fulton County Health Department and Georgia Department of Public Health,” the city added. “For residents with concerns, we continue to advise the following precautionary measures. If you are worried about air quality, please stay indoors, close all windows and doors, and turn off any ventilation systems until further notice.”
[12:40 p.m.]: DeKalb County Schools said there will be no after-school outdoor activities and athletics Monday.
[12:35 p.m.]: Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt said they were working with the county’s emergency management agency late Monday morning to determine how long the shelter-in-place order will last and if there are any additional chemicals or toxins as part of the plume.
Nesbitt said he understood the impact of the order on local businesses and hoped to get them opened back up when it was safe to do so. He said abiding by the order helps to take the strain off county resources.
The chairman also expressed concerns with the continued incidents at the plant and said officials will be having a “different type of conversation with leadership and management” of BioLab.
“Biolab has been a corporate community partner to Rockdale County and the city of Conyers. However, public safety is paramount, so we will be having the necessary conversation with their leadership team about their safety and their mitigation plan and their security plan inside their operations,” Nesbitt added.
— Photojournalist John Spink
[12:25 p.m.]: Longtime Conyers residents Connie and Craig Raines weren’t officially notified about the incident until late Sunday evening, hours after the fire occurred. The delay in notification confused them, because one of their neighbors was notified quickly after the incident.
“Where is the disconnect?” Connie Raines said. “What’s a question we need to figure out. Where were the big sirens?”
The two live south of the interstate and were under a shelter-in-place order. The smoke wasn’t too severe near their home, but Craig Raines could see the smoke mixing with the clouds from his carport. Connie Raines, who worked as an environmental engineer with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for decades before retiring, plans to contact the state to find out more about the chemicals in the air.
The two remember the last BioLab explosion in 2020. Craig Raines said the last explosion seemed worse than this one.
— Staff writer Savannah Sicurella
[12:15 p.m.]: Gwinnett County said the EPA had not picked up “anything of concern” on mobile monitors set up around the county.
The county said EPA is recommending anyone in the direct plume to stay inside but are not recommending a shelter in place in Gwinnett County at this time.
— Staff writer Jozsef Papp
[12:10 p.m.]: Jeremy Sarnat, an associate professor of environmental health at Emory University and part of a scientific committee that advises the EPA, said it’s hard to gauge the extent of the health risk posed by the chemical release without knowing which chemicals are present.
He recommended Monday that people take precautions to limit their exposure. Anyone with asthma should be especially careful.
“I’m on the Emory campus right now and I smell it and I see it,” he said around 11 a.m. Monday. “So it was a very, very potent chemical release but it’s not something I am going to panic about. I’ll take precautions (like staying inside) where I can.”
Exposure to chlorine can cause burning of eyes, nose and mouth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can also lead to headaches, nausea and choking.
Sarnat said the health effects from an exposure to these chemicals will be strongly influenced by the dose received and a person’s individual health status.
— Staff writer Helena Oliviero
[11:55 a.m.]: The DeKalb Emergency Management Agency is aware of air quality concerns following the fire, but officials said the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has not issued any advisories for the county.
“DEMA and DeKalb County Fire Rescue are testing air quality throughout the day around the county and will issue advisories should they become necessary,” Director of Emergency Management Joseph K. Cox said in a statement. “Residents are advised to call 311 to report any air quality concerns.”
[11:45 a.m.]: BioLab, the chemical company and owner of a Conyers factory that caught fire and triggered evacuation and shelter in place orders, has had a series of fires and chemical releases at its facilities in Georgia and elsewhere, state and federal records show.
Sunday’s fire, which caused the evacuation of 17,000 residents, a shelter-in-place order, closures of businesses across Rockdale County and the temporary shutdown of I-20, is at least the fourth significant fire or chemical release from the Conyers plant in the past 20 years, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution review of state and federal records shows.
BioLab is part of Lawrenceville-based KIK Consumer Products, which has brands including Comet, Greased Lightning and Spic and Span. KIK acquired BioLab in 2013 to expand its pool and spa treatment business. BioLab has operated in Conyers since 1973 and incidents at the facility date back decades.
— Read the full story by staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi here.
[11:30 a.m.]: Charles Young was one of the few people at the Shell gas station at Sigman Road and I-20 late Monday morning where smoke was visible overhead and cast the street in a white haze. He was gassing up his service van before heading back to Decatur.
Young, who works for Weems Freight Services a non-emergency medical transportation company, was scheduled to transport eight clients in Rockdale County to various medical and other appointments.
“We just got a call to come back to the office,” said Young who was wearing a mask while standing outside the truck. “As soon as we got into the area we got an alert on our phones warning people about the smoke and to stay inside. It’s bad.”
— Staff writer Janel Davis
[11:25 a.m.]: Here’s what we know about the chemical fire, how it started and who is impacted.
— Read the full story by staff writer Rosana Hughes here.
[11:20 a.m.]: The DeKalb school district is leaving the decision to keep students indoors up to school administrators. City Schools of Decatur has moved all outdoor activities indoors. Meanwhile, Emory University is under normal operations, a spokeswoman said.
— Staff writers Cassidy Alexander and Eric Stirgus
[11:15 a.m.]: Gwinnett County officials said the EPA is advising anyone in the direct plume to stay inside, but that a shelter in place order was not recommended at this time.
The county stated its hazardous material team was monitoring the situation but had not yet “detected anything hazardous.” Officials said they had expected the smell to “dissipate in a couple of hours” as the winds shift.
“A low-pressure system has pushed fog into the area, and a lack of wind is causing the smell to linger,” the county said on social media.
— Staff writer Jozsef Papp
[11:05 a.m.]: The city of Atlanta said, at this time, that no warnings or advisories have been issued. Officials said they plan to continue to coordinate with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental Protection Division, while Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport conduct air quality control checks.
“We are aware of the incident in Conyers, Georgia, and are working diligently to ensure the safety of those in and around Atlanta,” the city said. “If you have concerns stay inside, clsoe windows and doors, and turn off ventilation systems.”
— Staff writer Jozsef Papp
[Original story] A shelter-in-place order for all of Rockdale County has been extended indefinitely Monday as Atlanta and Fulton County investigate a “haze and strong chemical smell” that authorities believe is linked to a chemical plant fire.
Environmental officials are investigating the fire at BioLab, a chemical facility on Old Covington Road in Conyers, that sent a colossal wall of smoke that billowed into the air Sunday afternoon and led to the evacuation order of about 17,000 people and several road closures, including I-20, which remained closed until Monday morning.
Residents there will likely see the plume of smoke — now a chemical reaction and not a fire — for several days.
“In the best interest and safety of the public and all citizens, it is recommended that businesses close operations until shelter-in-place is lifted,” county officials said in a news release.
The impact had reached parts of Atlanta by Monday morning. Mayor Andre Dickens said the city is aware of reports of a smell of chlorine around the east side of the city.
”Atlanta Fire Rescue is going out with detectors to various spots east to see what is in the air,” Dickens said on social media.
Dickens said the change of wind direction is blowing some of the Conyers fire residuals toward the city. He said the city will send out more information as soon as it’s available.
The Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency said it is “investigating the numerous reports of a haze and strong chemical smell across Fulton County.”
The agency posted on X: “If you have concerns, STAY INSIDE, CLOSE windows and doors, TURN OFF A/C & other ventilation system.”
In another post, the agency said: “We do believe it’s related to the BioLab fire, but why we are seeing the change in conditions is what we are attempting to figure out. Latest plume modeling indicates it moving to the northeast, which it is clearly not.”
Inter Atlanta FC – Atlanta’s largest inner-city youth soccer club, with more than 3,000 players – notified caregivers and staff it is “monitoring the air quality situation” and would make a decision on whether to hold practices Monday after 2 p.m.
In Gwinnett County, officials said they had received calls from residents reporting haze and a chemical smell believed to be related to the plant fire in Conyers. In a post on X, the county said its emergency management agency is monitoring the situation. Gwinnett Public Schools said it has canceled all outdoor activates events Monday and had taken steps to prevent air from coming into their buildings. In an email, officials said they would continue to monitor the air quality and would be in touch with the county and Department of Public Health about next steps.
“We do know that Rockdale County has reported it may take some time for the fire cloud to dissipate,” school officials said. “Until the air quality improves, we encourage all families and staff to limit time outside, and keep windows and doors shut.”
DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency and DeKalb Fire Rescue are both testing air quality around the county and will issue advisories should they become necessary.
Credit: John Spink/Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit: John Spink/Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rockdale County has a population of just over 90,000. The shelter-in-place decision is based on air quality surveys conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division, “which revealed the harmful irritant chlorine, which was detected in the air emitting from the incident location of BioLab. For everyone sheltering in place, the best practice is to turn the air conditioning off and keep windows and doors shut,” officials said.
Additionally, both directions of I-20 were closed from Turner Hill Road to Almon Road overnight Sunday. The highway reopened around 7:30 a.m. Monday.
“The need to keep I-20 closed (was) based on unpredictable path and wind direction, which could change the direction of the irritants in the air,” authorities said.
Georgia Gwinnett College warned students not to come to campus due to air quality on Monday and instructing students to remain in buildings if they’re already there.
Students attending Rockdale County Public Schools were already off for fall break this week, with a scheduled Oct. 7 return. Newton County Schools are closed Monday because of the size of the evacuation area and the closure of I-20. Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s Rockdale, Clarkston, Lithonia and Newton campuses are closed Monday and until further notice.
It was the third time in seven years that a fire has ignited at the plant, officials said. According to the company’s website, BioLab “is the swimming pool and spa water care division of KIK Consumer Products.” That company is based in Lawrenceville.
The fire started Sunday morning and was initially extinguished. It reignited after noon Sunday. Photos showed a massive plume of smoke in the sky that was visible from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport — about 30 miles away.
“Please remain indoors and keep windows closed to minimize exposure to any potential hazards,” the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a news release.
A fire on the roof caused the sprinkler system to mix with a water-reactive chemical at the plant, Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel said during a news conference late Sunday. It’s unclear what started the fire, which was brought under control around 4 p.m. The roof and walls of the plant have since collapsed.
On Sunday morning, McDaniel said crews had been working on taking the material away from the water source at the facility and that the fire was contained to the roof. But the fire reignited around noon as crews were removing the material. There were employees inside the plant, but no injuries have been reported.
“Now we are just trying to mitigate the debris so we can offload the product,” the chief said.
Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC
Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC
Standing in front of the bollowing smoke that at one point turned orange, Rockdale Sheriff Eric Levett on Sunday afternoon “strongly asked” residents to stay away from the area.
Officials created an evacuation zone for a large portion of Conyers due to the fire.
There was more traffic than usual in Conyers on Sunday as drivers tried to navigate the closed roads and section of the interstate. A Kroger store on Ga. 138 was shuttered, while a QuikTrip on Klondike Road was pay at the pump only. The lights from police cruisers were visible throughout the area, many of which came from neighboring jurisdictions.
Over her seven years with the fire department, McDaniel said it was the third such incident of “this magnitude,” at the plant. The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency said it issued a shelter in place order on behalf of Rockdale’s emergency management agency, but no timetable has been provided as to when the area will be safe.
In September 2020, a “TCCA reaction and decomposition” caused another plume of hazardous chemicals to be released into the air at the Conyers plant, exposing facility personnel and nine firefighters to “dangerous fumes,” according to a U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board report. Surrounding businesses were evacuated and a section of I-20 was closed for about six hours. The report stated another decomposition involving TCCA happened four days later at the plant, but no one was injured.
“TCCA is used throughout the country in pool care and, when put in large bodies of water such as a pool, breaks down slowly, releasing chlorine in the water,” the report added. “However, when TCCA comes into contact with small amounts of water and does not dissolve, it can undergo a chemical reaction that generates heat, causing the decomposition of TCCA, which produces toxic chlorine gas.”
While it’s unclear exactly what chemicals were involved with the fire on Sunday, officials said the EPA will be sampling the plume to determine its contents. Before the severity of the chemicals are determined, evacuation sites are being held at Lucious Sanders Recreation Center, 2484 Bruce Street in Lithonia, Bert Adams Boy Scout Camp at 218 Scout Road in Covington, and Wolverine Gym at 8134 Geiger Street in Newton County. A previous site was listed at 90 Hardin Street in Conyers, but it is now in the evacuation zone, officials said.
A dispatcher with the Rockdale fire department confirmed that Rockdale Piedmont Hospital was evacuating some of its patients.
The Rockdale County District Attorney’s Office said its offices and the county courthouse would be closed Monday due to the fire.
“We ask for your prayers for the safety of the residents of Rockdale and the first responders committed to protecting our community,” the DA’s office said.
As of Monday morning, there was not a plan in place for residents unable to return to their homes by the evening. County officials will let the public know on its social media channels when the EPA determines the threat level to the community. A shift in the plume and report from the EPA will likely influence how long the area would be impacted.
Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC
Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC
“We have about 60 folks over at the scene working through this, so it’s going to be a long process,” McDaniel said.
The company’s website says that its brands are “industry leaders” that “pioneered computerized water testing and the 3-step system for pool and spa care.” On Sunday, the company responded to the fire with a statement saying that all its employees were safe and that community safety is a top concern.
“We are actively responding to an occurrence at our facility in Conyers, Georgia,” a BioLab representative said in a statement. “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. As always, the safety of our community remains our top priority.”
The fire led to the cancellation of church services from Rockbridge to the Northside County line. Officials said local hospitals will be alerting the public about steps to take for those affected by the incident.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
