A fire at a chemical plant in Conyers, Ga., near Atlanta, caused a dangerous chemical plume, forcing 17,000 residents to evacuate and prompting a shelter-in-place order for 77,000 more. Evacuation and shelter-in-place orders were lifted on Monday night after authorities found air quality and water to be safe.
Hank Sanders reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- A fire at BioLab’s Conyers, Ga., facility released a smoke plume containing chlorine after water from sprinklers mixed with a reactive chemical.
- Officials extended a shelter-in-place order for 77,000 residents as emergency crews continued managing the chemical plume.
- The cause of the fire remains unclear, with no reported injuries, but smoke may linger for several days.
Key quote:
“That can be so hot that it can also combust nearby materials and the reaction can be explosive. It can also release flammable, toxic or otherwise hazardous gases.”
— Wendy J. Buckley, president of STARS Hazmat Consulting
Why this matters:
Toxic plumes from chemical fires pose serious health risks to nearby communities, and repeated incidents at the same facility raise concerns about safety practices and long-term exposure.
