The giant plume of smoke from a chemical plant fire in Rockdale County contains potentially hazardous chemicals.
The fire at Bio-Lab, Inc. forced the evacuation of residents in Conyers, Ga., and created a plume of smoke visible for miles. Officials with Bio-Lab, Inc. said the fire was in a building that contained swimming pool and spa chemicals, some packaging and raw materials, such as palettes.
"The smoke does contain consumed chlorine. So, anyone who is seeing this newscast, please stay out of the smoke. It is very important that you stay out of the smoke. It will irritate you," said Monte Eckles with Bio-Lab, Inc.
Bio-Lab is home to 250,000 lbs of calcium hypochlorite. The chemical is used to bind chlorine so that it can be sold in a solid form. Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency said it is the solid form that is burning in Rockdale County. It is not poisonous, but it is an irritant. The chemical may cause nasal irritation, sore throat, and coughing.
Eckles said there were no employees injured in the incident, however, Rockdale County Hospital reached capacity for treating people affected by the fumes. The hospital has been sending additional people to Newton County General Hospital in Covington, Ga. Buses were on standby at Rockdale County Hospital in case the hospital needed to evacuate.
"I have not heard, confirmed any injuries per se. I have heard of people being transported due to breathing problems or irritations," said Deputy Jodi Shupe with the Rockdale County Sheriff's Department.
Shelters were set up at J.H House Elementary and Heritage High School. The Rockdale County Sheriff's Department called in the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross to help with evacuations and the shelters.
EPA officials were at the scene. They said their main concern was a nearby pond. They were checking to make sure that there was no contamintation of the pond that could possibly run off into the Conyers, Ga., water system. The EPA was also monitoring the air quality.
Mike Lee, Deputy Fire Chief of Rockdale County, said the fire was contained to the initial building. Lee said he was rotating firefighters in-and-out of the battle to make sure the firefighters did not suffer from exhaustion or dehydration. As many as four additional fire departments were helping battle the fire, including DeKalb and Henry County and the City of Covington. The DeKalb County HAZMAT team was standing by most of the morning.
The fire started in the early morning hours, according to people with Bio-Lab, Inc.
