Conyers GA BioLab Fire: Incident Recap
The fire ignited early Sunday morning at the BioLab plant, located on Old Covington Road in Conyers, Georgia. Initial reports suggest that a sprinkler system malfunctioned, causing water to mix with a reactive chemical stored on the premises. This reaction resulted in a massive plume of smoke that could be seen as far as 30 miles away at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
While the fire was initially brought under control by noon, it reignited later in the afternoon as crews were attempting to remove hazardous materials from the facility. By 4 p.m., the blaze had been contained, but the large plume of smoke—now primarily a result of the chemical reaction—remained visible and is expected to linger for several days.
As a result of the fire, local authorities issued evacuation orders for approximately 17,000 residents in the Conyers area. The evacuation zone included neighborhoods north of Interstate 20 and between Sigman Road and I-20. For those living south of I-20, a shelter-in-place order was enforced, advising residents to remain indoors with windows and doors closed to avoid exposure to potentially harmful chemicals released into the air.
Multiple roads were closed, including a stretch of I-20 between Salem Road and Turner Hill Road, causing significant traffic congestion as emergency services worked to contain the fire and ensure public safety.
Updated Road closures as of 1:50am:
- Iris Drive at McDaniel Mill Road
- Sigman Road at I-20 East
- Sigman Road at Old Covington Hwy
- Sigman Road at General Arts
- Sigman Road at Lester Road
- Sigman Road at Farmer Road
- Sigman Road at Irwin Bridge Road
- Irwin Bridge Road at Main Street
- Green Street at West Circle
- Dogwood Drive at Motel 6
- West Avenue at Dogwood Drive
- Rockbridge Road at Main Street
- Smyrna Road at Klondike Road
- Sigman Road at Rockbridge Road
- Iris Drive at Klondike Road
- Iris Drive at Blacklawn Road
- Hi-Roc Road at Carr Road
- Plunkett Road at Lester Road
- Bonds Lake Road at Irwin Bridge Road
- I-20 East and West from Turner Hill Rd to Almon Rd
Evacuation Centers and Public Services Impacted
Several evacuation centers were established to assist displaced residents, including the Lucious Sanders Recreation Center in Lithonia, Bert Adams Boy Scout Camp in Covington, and Wolverine Gym in Newton County. The Rockdale County Fire Department confirmed that no injuries were reported among BioLab employees or first responders. However, the Rockdale Piedmont Hospital took precautionary measures by evacuating some of its patients.
Safety and Environmental Concerns
Public services were also affected, with the Newton County School District announcing the closure of all schools on Monday. Rockdale County public offices, including the courthouse and district attorney’s office, were closed until further notice. Churches in the area were also advised to cancel services.
Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel urged residents to avoid the area and follow safety protocols to minimize exposure to the hazardous plume. Conyers Mayor Vince Evans also discouraged residents from engaging in “sightseeing” near the fire site, stressing the importance of leaving the area or staying indoors to avoid harm.
The BioLab facility has been the site of multiple fires over the years, raising questions about the safety measures in place at the chemical plant. Over her seven years with the fire department, Chief McDaniel noted that this was the third incident of this magnitude at the facility. BioLab, a division of KIK Consumer Products, has yet to release detailed information on the causes of these recurring incidents.
In a statement released by the company, BioLab assured the public that all employees were safe and accounted for, and emphasized their commitment to the safety of the surrounding community. The company is actively working with first responders and local authorities to address the situation.
“We are actively responding to an occurrence at our facility in Conyers, Georgia. Our employees are accounted for with no injuries reported,” according to the statement issued through a public relations firm. “Our team is on the scene, working with first responders and local authorities to assess and contain the situation. As always, the safety of our community remains our top priority.”
Stay tuned for updates on the BioLab fire in Conyers, GA, as authorities continue to assess the aftermath and work toward restoring safety in the area.
