2024 Conyers BioLab fire
 | This article documents a current chemical contamination event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (October 2024) |
On the morning of Sunday, September 29, 2024, a fire broke out at a BioLab facility near Conyers, Georgia. The fire caused the release of an unknown amount of chlorine gas into the air of Rockdale County. A large plume of smoke from the plant was seen at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, 30 mi (48 km) away from the fire. All of Rockdale County was placed under a shelter in place advisory due to the hazardous chlorine in the air, and Conyers was evacuated.
Background
[edit]The BioLab facility in Conyers was responsible for the production of swimming pool supplies. It had previously experienced a chemical fire in 2004 which was reported to have been caused by 250,000 chlorine pellets at the facility, causing 28 injuries. The warehouse was owned by Chemtura at that time, but at the time of the 2024 fire, it was owned by KIK Consumer Goods.[1] Less than a week before the fire, the area had experienced the effects of Hurricane Helene, which brought heavy rain, winds, and flooding to the region, but it is unknown whether the storm had any influence in the fire.[2]
Fire
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2024) |
Around 5 p.m. EDT, a malfunctioning fire sprinkler sprayed water onto a water-reactive chemical. The reaction created a plume of chemicals.[3]
Impact
[edit]Interstate 20 in Georgia was closed due to the event.[3] Residents of Conyers were ordered to evacuate, and a shelter-in-place order was put into effect for all of Rockdale County. Areas in Fulton County, Georgia reported a "haze and strong chemical smell".[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Raymond, Jonathan (September 29, 2024). "BioLab in Conyers had similar chemical fire, smoke plume situation in 2004". WXIA-TV. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ Alsharif, Mirna; Bendix, Aria (September 30, 2024). "Shelter-in-place advisory extended in Georgia county after chlorine detected in air".
- ^ a b "Interstate is closed outside Atlanta as residents evacuate due to a chemical plant fire". Associated Press. September 29, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ Craig, Jess; Delgado, Sam (September 30, 2024). "A big fire at a lab near Atlanta spewed chemicals into the air. Here's what we know". Retrieved October 1, 2024.