Rockdale County officials have urged residents to shelter in place following a BioLab fire in Conyers “if the plume or smell of chlorine is over their area until the cloud has passed.”
“This is especially critical for individuals with respiratory conditions,” the county said in a release. “It is essential to stay aware of the wind shifts.”
At 3:30 a.m., on Oct. 1, 2024, a notification came in from operations at Conyers’ BioLab that a plume was hovering over the county because of the over-gassing of the product. The plume has been moving across the county, influenced by the weather.
Due to inversion, the plume is more prone to shift during the evening, and it is recommended to stay inside during evening hours if possible and keep emergency alert notifications on your phone active.
Biolab leadership is collaborating with Rockdale County Fire Services to neutralize and contain the chemical plume as efficiently as possible. County officials said the process involves controlled efforts to minimize the plume’s impact.
The EPA and other officials have been fully briefed on the strategy. Health officials confirmed that air quality levels remain below harmful thresholds for the general public.
The EPA is monitoring air quality in real time.