Conyers, Georgia – A fire on the roof of a plant in Conyers, Georgia caused a sprinkler system malfunction, leading to a dangerous chemical reaction according to Rockdale County fire Chief Marian McDaniel. The incident led to the collapse of the roof and walls of the plant, prompting a shelter-in-place order for all of Rockdale County until midnight. Around 17,000 people in Conyers were affected by the order, with officials warning that the chemical plume could be visible for several days.
McDaniel revealed that crews had been working to remove the material from the water source when the fire reignited, resulting in a larger response to contain the situation. Although employees were inside the plant during the incident, thankfully, no injuries have been reported at this time. The Rockdale sheriff Eric Levett urged residents to avoid the area, including the closed section of the interstate, as they worked to control the situation.
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency reported that this was the third incident of this magnitude at the plant in seven years, raising concerns about the safety of the chemicals used in the facility. Following a similar incident in September 2020, where hazardous chemicals were released into the air, stricter measures were implemented to ensure the safety of nearby residents and plant employees.
Emergency evacuation sites were set up in various locations to assist those affected by the fire, with Rockdale Piedmont Hospital also taking precautionary measures to evacuate patients. With ongoing efforts to determine the contents of the plume through EPA sampling, the public is advised to stay updated through social media channels for further instructions regarding the threat level to the community.
As the situation continues to unfold, local authorities and first responders are working tirelessly to assess and contain the fire at the plant. The cancellation of church services and road closures in the area highlight the widespread impact of the incident, raising questions about the regulation and safety protocols surrounding the use of water-reactive chemicals in industrial facilities.