A fire broke out at the BioLab plant in Conyers Sunday morning, about 40 miles southwest of Athens. Water from the plant’s sprinklers set off a chemical reaction that caused a massive plume of smoke that could be seen for miles.
In a press release, Rockdale County officials said air quality surveys from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) detected the harmful chemical irritant chlorine in the air emitting from the incident site and advised all county residents to shelter-in-place. Additionally, approximately 17,000 residents and businesses in the area immediately surrounding the plant were told to evacuate Sunday.
According to the CDC, exposure to chlorine can cause burning of the eyes, nose, and mouth. It can also cause tearing, coughing, nausea, headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
A cellular public safety alert issued by Jackson County officials Monday afternoon stated a haze is visible in certain parts of the county. The alert assured residents that they have personnel monitoring the air. The Barrow County Fire Department also noted that residents were reporting a chlorine smell and noticeable haze in the air. After further investigation, the BCFD was able to attribute the haze to the BioLab plant.
The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) issued a statement around 1:40pm Monday afternoon to all EMAs within a 50 mile radius of Rockdale County informing the public that the EPA was monitoring air quality for chlorine and related compounds. The release also stated that the chemical levels were unlikely to cause harm to most people and urged residents to check with their local EMA for updates. Concerned residents were told to close windows, limit time outdoors and turn off ventilation systems.
But although local officials urge caution, they say Athens-area residents are outside of the area of concern. Fire Department Chief Nate Moss, Director of the Athens-Clarke County Emergency Management Department, says his office, GEMA, and the EPA have all checked the air quality and nothing poses as a threat.
