Town hall meeting for residents impacted by BioLab fire
Community town hall to discuss BioLab fire impacts
Conyers residents held a community meeting surrounding BioLab’s decision to close its manufacturing plant in Rockdale County. This comes after a chemical fire left behind a toxic smoke plume for days last year.
CONYERS, Ga. - Residents of Conyers and surrounding areas gathered Tuesday to discuss the recent announcement by BioLab that it will permanently shut down manufacturing operations at its Rockdale County facility, less than a year after a chemical fire sent toxic smoke over the community for days.
What they're saying:
The public meeting, held at the Stone Manor Events facility in Lithonia, featured a panel of local residents, national environmental experts, and attorneys who addressed ongoing concerns about health and environmental impacts.
"I feel like all of these communities that are impacted by these chemicals need to come together," said environmental advocate Jami Wallace. "You know, when you're fighting giants like we're fighting, you know, we definitely need to come together as chemically impacted communities and fight this. You know it's the same playbook. Over and over again."
The fire, which broke out last year, sparked days of air quality concerns as dangerous gases blanketed parts of the area. Since then, residents and local officials have demanded more accountability and transparency from the company.
Attorneys were there to provide insight on legal aspects of the case against BioLab. A class action lawsuit is seeking damages from BioLab on behalf of the residents.
The meeting is part of an ongoing effort to inform and support the community following the hazardous fire, which prompted widespread evacuations and raised serious environmental and health concerns.
Organizers of the community meeting said Tuesday's event was an important step in helping residents understand their rights and the path forward.
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The backstory:
On Sept. 29, 2024, a significant chemical fire erupted at the BioLab Inc. facility in Conyers, Georgia, leading to widespread evacuations and shelter-in-place orders affecting over 90,000 residents in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
The incident began around 5 a.m. when a malfunctioning sprinkler system released water onto trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), a water-reactive chemical used in pool treatment products. This reaction produced toxic vapor plumes and initiated a fire that intensified throughout the day. By 6:30 a.m., flames were visible through the roof, and parts of the building began to collapse. A second, larger fire broke out around noon, emitting thick black and multicolored smoke.
The fires prompted the closure of Interstate 20 and the evacuation of approximately 17,000 people in Conyers. A shelter-in-place order was issued for Rockdale County due to the release of chlorine and other hazardous chemicals into the air. Air quality concerns extended to parts of Atlanta, where residents reported a strong chemical odor and haze.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) conducted air monitoring during and after the incident. The EPA discontinued its monitoring in mid-October, while the EPD continued oversight of cleanup operations.
Following the incident, the U.S. Department of Labor cited BioLab for six Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations, including four serious ones, and proposed penalties exceeding $60,000. The violations were related to the improper storage of hazardous chemicals.
Earlier this month, BioLab announced it would not resume manufacturing operations at the Conyers facility but would continue to operate the site as a distribution center. The decision was influenced by the fire's impact and the company's assessment of future business needs.
Rockdale County commissioners said they are continuing to monitor the long-term effects of the fire and are staying in communication with environmental agencies.
RELATED: BioLab completes remediation; halts manufacturing at Conyers facility