On the morning of September 29, a chemical plant located near Atlanta, Georgia, was engulfed in flames, sending plumes of thick black smoke into the sky and prompting mandatory evacuations for nearby residents.
I spoke with Marian McDaniel, the Fire Chief of Rockdale County, who explained the cause of the fire. “The blaze was triggered by a malfunction in the plant’s sprinkler system, which led to water mixing with chemicals,” McDaniel revealed. “As soon as the sprinkler system activated, the water mixed with the chemicals, igniting the wires and other materials, which ultimately caused the fire.”
The plant, owned by BioLab, specializes in producing chemicals for swimming pools and spas. While officials noted that the fire was relatively contained, footage from the scene showed that the chemical reactions resulted in a significant amount of smoke.
Located about 25 miles from downtown Atlanta, the incident led to evacuations of neighboring residents, while others were advised to shelter in place by closing windows and avoiding the use of air conditioning. Several roads in the vicinity were also closed off, but it remains unclear how many people evacuated or opted to shelter in place.
In a statement to local media, BioLab confirmed that there were no injuries among employees due to the incident.
Chief McDaniel mentioned that the accident has been reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
