Georgia BioLab Fire Blocks I-20, Prompts Evacuations
“Officials say that a sprinkler in the plant malfunctioned, causing water to make contact with a reactive chemical. That resulted in a small fire on the roof of the plant and a large plume.”
A massive fire at the BioLab chemical plant in Conyers, GA, about 27 miles east of Atlanta, forced authorities to block I-20 and call for evacuation of the surrounding area.
A massive chemical fire has broken out at BioLab in Conyers, GA. Prayers up. pic.twitter.com/hdLDZgc22r
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 29, 2024
The authorities placed those “north of I-20 and between Sigman Road and I-20 are within the evacuation zone.”
People south of I-20 are safe:
“If you choose not to evacuate, please do not get out and ride around and just take videos of what’s going on!” said Conyers Mayor Vince Evans. “Stay in place. Stay put. Either leave or stay, but don’t be wandering out in the city.”
“This is not the time to do any type of sightseeing,” said Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett. “We are strongly encouraging everyone, no matter where you’re coming from, but especially Rockdale residents, to stay out of this area for the safety of yourself, and for the safety of all personnel that are out here already that have to work this type of incident.”
A malfunctioned sprinkler caused water to mix with a reactive chemical:
During a 10 a.m. press conference, it was revealed that the incident began around 5 a.m. Officials say that a sprinkler in the plant malfunctioned, causing water to make contact with a reactive chemical. That resulted in a small fire on the roof of the plant and a large plume.
Officials did not say what chemical was involved during the press conference. Officials also said that they are waiting for heavy equipment to remove pallets of the chemical from the plant. In the meantime, the EPA will be sampling the plume to determine what chemicals are in it to determine the threat level to the community.
From LeeAnna “James we are on I-20 in Conyers, GA. BioLabs is on fire right now.” pic.twitter.com/31dpjz4HIM
— James Spann (@spann) September 29, 2024
A bio lab in Rockdale County still on fire since 5am 😲 pic.twitter.com/TpvTYS4hpM
— 𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 (@jasminelajoi) September 29, 2024
CONYERS, GEORGIA — A fire at Rockdale County Biolab, a chemical plant in Rockdale County, is causing the evacuation of people who live nearby as well as a number of road closures…
The sheriff’s office says they evacuated the area near Biolab on Old Covington Highway on Sunday… pic.twitter.com/LIVC4XpT7I
— HarrietEve9 (@HarrietEve9) September 29, 2024
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Comments
The “reactive chemical” … was it a lithium battery?
And how does a fire inside become a fire solely on the roof? Or is it actually both now?
Both now. I believe the fire started on the roof, was believed to have been extinguished are largely contained and then reignited. Local media hasn’t said what the chemical is. But, a few years ago, there was another fire at this same facility (it’s a pool chemical manufacturer). In that fire, the reactive chemical turned out to be a Chlorine compound. Chlorine is, of course, a reactive element.
They are a division of another company and make pool and spa stuff like cholrine tabs so I’m guessing that would be it. I’m wondering how sprinklers hitting an agent inside cause a fire on the roof?
Yes, that’s exactly what happened. That initial fire was described as ‘small.’ But, it reignited sometime later in the day and turned into what it did.
It would help to know what the “reactive chemical” is. And not to have to depend on the EPA to figure it out.
Wait…
There was an area with a sprinkler system and with that area was a chemical that reacted with water?
🤦♂️ 🤦♂️ 🤦♂️
“Does anyone here know how to play this game?”
Aren’t government regulations grand?
A better set of regulation would require an accessible database of all hazardous substances in use or stored to be readily available on online for any given location. That way folks would know what they needed to be personally prepared for b/c as we’ve seen here the local ‘authorities’ ain’t telling.
THIS. This is exactly why they make fire extinguisher systems that don’t use water.
Any chickens in that building?
I had to chuckle, seeing that picture of smoke pouring out of the building, and in the foreground is a billboard for a slip-and-fall attorney.
Georgia is covered up in personal injury lawyers. I blame Ted Turner.
“Either leave or stay, but don’t be wandering out in the city.”
“Nonsense. Life moves fast, so it’s important to stop and smell the fires along the way.”
–Gwen Walz
Any chemicals that are reactive to water are required to be covered by a Halon system. No water is allowed in the fire suppression system. FKH
Whatever you do, stay upwind. There is virtually no chance that the PTB will tell you the truth about how hazardous that smoke really is, at least not until its too late.
This seems very strange. The company was storing oxidizers like hypochlorite and peroxide under a sprinkler system? That would explain the evacuation notice with those billowing clouds as chlorine gas is not something that would be good for your health to say the least
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