Protestors Call for Closure of Conyers, GA, Plant that Burned

BioLab said this weekend the company regrets the impact of a fire at a Rockdale County warehouse and has launched a website to keep the community informed.

But at a rally held Sunday afternoon on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol, protesters said BioLab needs to be shut down.

“We feel like there’s been no oversight and they’ve been treated too laxly,” rally organizer Jacob Dallas told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We feel that they have the money to make sure their sprinkles work and not send toxic gas into the community.”

Last weekend’s fire at the Old Covington Highway plant sent a huge wall of smoke into the sky. After the fire was extinguished, the smoke continued to rise due to the pool chemicals produced at the plant reacting with water used to contain the blaze. And that meant hazy skies and the smell of chlorine lingered for several days in southeastern metro Atlanta.

About 17,000 people in Conyers were temporarily evacuated and a shelter-in-place order was issued for the entire county, according to county leaders. Residents have since returned home, but advised to stay inside if they experience symptoms such as eye and airway irritation, coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest tightness and headaches. County leaders have also advised residents to shelter in place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through the weekend, ending at 7 a.m. Monday.

State and federal records show BioLab has had a series of fires and chemical releases at its facilities in Georgia and elsewhere, The AJC reported last week. In September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I-20 was closed for more than six hours as a chlorine vapor cloud rose from the Conyers facility due to a chemical reaction.

Following the recent fire, those wanting BioLab to be closed say the county didn’t properly handle evacuations, and some residents were unaware of the situation, Dallas said. A petition to close the plants has been posted on a website for The Party for Socialism and Liberation.

BioLab said it is taking the situation seriously.

“At BioLab, we take our role in the Conyers community very seriously, and we deeply regret the impact of the fire at our warehouse,” a message posted on the new website states. “Our priority is remediating this situation with the health and safety of the community top of mind.”

Cleanup continued through the week at the site, and air quality monitoring and water testing was ongoing, according to state and local officials.

“The response is being led by the Unified Command, under the direction of the Rockdale County Fire Chief, and comprising local, state, and federal officials and BioLab senior leaders — along with the technical specialists we have deployed,” BioLab posted online. “We are all working diligently to make progress onsite. You have our commitment that we will support our community and make this right.”

BioLab also said it has made donations to both Rockdale Emergency Fund and United Way to support efforts to assist residents. The company is also offering debris cleanup to residents who may have waste moved by windy conditions.

Earlier this week, Georgia Department of Public Health epidemiologist Cherie Drenzek said “a few hundred” patients have gone into emergency rooms and clinics complaining of symptoms associated with an exposure to the BioLab smoke. “What we are seeing so far is really kind of mild effects,” Drenzek said. “Very, very few people have had to be admitted (to a hospital) or have had any severe outcomes.”

The Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University said it’s still unknown what the long-term environmental consequences from the fire will be.

Rockdale plans to open government facilities on Monday. The county’s school system will move to virtual learning through Wednesday.

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