On Sunday night, over 17,000 people were told they had to evacuate their homes in Georgia. Early Sunday morning, in Conyers, Georgia, the bio lab plant broke out into flames, releasing dangerous levels of chemicals into the air. They were also told if you’re not in the evacuation area they should stay inside their homes with all doors and windows closed and locked. There should be no use of air conditioning because that could cause the chemicals to come through and fill your house. If exposed to these chemicals you could experience burning in your eyes, nose, and mouth you may also experience coughing, choking, nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness. The Environmental Protection Agency will be working day by day to keep track of the chemicals and how good or bad the air quality is getting over time. The fire in the building was so bad it caused the chemicals to travel through the air in multiple counties around the area. There is a permanent air monitor placed in Lawrenceville that showed a level of 153 early Monday morning which is very unsafe and unhealthy for anyone to take into their bodies. There is also an air monitor in Decatur that reads at very high levels but drops down to moderate levels by mid-afternoon. Moderate levels can still be dangerous though if you have difficulties breathing or have asthma you’re still recommended to stay indoors. The fire broke out on Sunday at 5 a.m. The reason for the fire is suspected to be because of a malfunctioning sprinkler head that came in contact with a water-reactive chemical. Firefighters were able to gain control and put the fire out soon after it started many hours later and reignited, causing the chemicals in the air to become even worse than before. The second and final fire in the bio lab plant was finally put out at 4 p.m.
Owner of the plant KIK Consumer Products said everyone in the building at the time had been accounted for and no injuries had been reported from this outburst.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/29/us/rockdale-county-biolab-fire-georgia/index.html