Chemical Plant Fire Near Atlanta Sparks Evacuations and Closes Interstate 20

Chemical Plant Fire Forces Evacuations East of Atlanta

A chemical plant fire in Conyers, Georgia, approximately 30 miles east of Atlanta, has forced evacuations and prompted shelter-in-place orders for nearby residents. The incident, which began early Sunday morning, resulted in a massive plume of dark smoke visible for miles and led to the closure of Interstate 20 in both directions, causing significant traffic disruptions.

The fire started around 5 a.m. at the BioLab plant, a division of KIK Consumer Products. According to officials, a sprinkler head malfunction caused water to mix with a water-reactive chemical, triggering the blaze. No injuries have been reported among employees inside the plant.

Fire Chief Marian McDaniel stated that the current strategy is to allow the chemicals to burn off. However, uncertainty remains about the specific chemicals present in the smoke plume, which was visible as far as 30 miles away at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Authorities have ordered evacuations for residents in northern Rockdale County, while others in the vicinity have been instructed to shelter in place. The exact number of evacuees remains unclear. Officials are urging people to stay away from the affected area.

The incident has drawn the attention of federal and state environmental agencies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division are on site, monitoring air quality to determine the contents of the smoke plume.

BioLab has issued a statement confirming no injuries and assuring that they are actively responding to the incident. Efforts are now focused on removing the remaining chemicals from the building and assessing when it will be safe for residents to return to their homes.

As the situation continues to develop, local authorities are working to manage the emergency response and minimize potential risks to public health and safety.