Residents Still Feel the Impact of Conyers BioLab Fire
CONYERS, Georgia – A recent update from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has shed light on the September 29 fire at the BioLab facility that left local neighborhoods enveloped in toxic smoke for days. Thousands of residents were thrown into chaos, forced to either evacuate or stay indoors as a precautionary measure during the hazy fallout.
According to the CSB report, BioLab officials had detected strong odors from oxidizers in two storage buildings and had put a permanent fire watch in place a couple of months before the incident. On the morning of the fire, two employees were on duty as part of this fire watch protocol. At around 5 a.m., an employee at Plant 12 noticed a “popping sound” and reported that the product in the warehouse was wet, which raised immediate concerns.
What Sparked the Flames?
The warehouse in question was holding a dangerously high concentration of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) and dichloroisocyanuric acid (DCCA) – both commonly used to create substances for treating swimming pools. Trouble occurred when TCCA, upon contact with water, can react violently, leading to the release of toxic chlorine gas and potentially explosive nitrogen trichloride.
When the employees could not isolate the risky products quickly, the situation escalated. Just a few minutes later, they called 911 about 5:10 a.m. By 6:30 a.m., flames were already visible, and an initial shelter-in-place order was issued at approximately 7:40 a.m. Rockdale County Fire Rescue managed to extinguish the fire by around 8:10 a.m., but the drama was far from over.
A Second Outbreak
Things took another turn for the worse around noon on that fateful day when another fire broke out, spewing thick, black smoke into the air. This second blaze prompted immediate evacuations around 12:30 p.m. Traffic on nearby Interstate 20 came to a halt as safety measures took precedence, not reopening until the following morning. The Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency kept the warnings going, advising residents to stay indoors for weeks following the incident.
Even though the fire was extinguished by 4 p.m., the off-gassing of chemicals persisted as reactive TCCA remained trapped beneath debris and collapsed walls, necessitating heavy machinery for safe cleanup and treatment of the area.
Community Concerns
The local community didn’t just watch this unfold from a distance; they felt the repercussions wholeheartedly. Residents across Conyers reported ongoing health issues like blurry vision, shortness of breath, throat irritation, and persistent headaches that began after the incident. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had been monitoring the air quality, revealing high concentrations of chlorine and hydrogen chloride for several days until their surveillance concluded on October 17. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is now overseeing cleanup efforts at the plant.
Seeking Justice
In light of this incident, Rockdale County officials are preparing to take action, planning to file a federal lawsuit to demand compensation for the affected community. There is even talk about working to have BioLab permanently shut down.
BioLab maintains it will continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigations and insists that the health and safety of surrounding communities are their top priorities. As the CSB continues its investigation, the community waits with bated breath for answers and assurance that this kind of incident will never happen again.
While the smoke may have cleared, the scars of that day linger, reminding the residents that safety and prevention must always come first.
