Head of federal investigation calls Georgia toxic fire 'completely unacceptable'

CONYERS, Ga. – Federal authorities have released an update on the investigation into fires at BioLab chemical plant near Atlanta that produces a toxic chemical cloud and forced nearby residents to shelter in place.

“This incident and the significant potential risk it posed to the surrounding community was completely unacceptable. Reactive chemical incidents can have serious impacts on the environment and public safety due to the combination of fires, toxic gas emissions and hazardous materials involved, and BioLab and any other facility that has reactive chemicals on-site must handle these materials safely,” said Steve Owens, USA. Chairman of the Chemical Safety and Risks Investigation Committee.

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The fires broke out on September 29 at the BioLab plant in Conyers, sending a huge plume of orange and black smoke into the sky.

The investigation found that the initial reaction was caused by materials stored inside the warehouse generating heat, which led to “decomposition and release of toxic vapors” on September 29.

Rockdale County officials said a sprinkler malfunctioned and sprayed water onto the chemical, causing a reaction which created a large and dangerous plume.

A BioLab employee reported hearing a “popping sound” around 5 a.m. After unsuccessfully attempting to isolate the reacting product, the worker called another employee on site for help. A 911 call was made about 10 minutes later, investigators said.

“Around 6:30 a.m., flames became visible above the chemical reaction area,” the report said.

The fire was extinguished around 4 p.m., the report states.

The effects of the fire were felt throughout Rockdale County as evacuation and containment orders were issued. About 17,000 people near the facility had to be evacuated and more than 70,000 others were ordered to shelter in place for several days. Rockdale County Schools have temporarily moved to virtual learning. Other metro Atlanta counties, including Fulton, were also warned of the effects of the fire, including haze and a potential chlorine odor.

BioLab makes chemicals that kill algae and bacteria in water, primarily for swimming pools and spas, the report said. The company is a subsidiary of Lawrenceville-based KIK Consumer Products.

The company said in a statement that it has a “strong track record of working constructively” with regulators and will continue to cooperate with federal authorities who are investigating.

“We are firmly committed to understanding the causes of the incident and addressing the concerns of residents and business owners in the affected area,” the statement said.

Parts of the building where the first reaction occurred collapsed during the fire and the building was destroyed. The Plant 12 building covered an area larger than five football fields and remained an “active scene of emergency response” for nearly four weeks, the report said.

The Plant 12 warehouse was a bulk storage area separated from the main warehouse by a firewall and fire shutters, the report said. BioLab told federal investigators that they established ongoing fire monitoring two or three months before the event “after detecting strong odors from oxidizers in two storage buildings,” including Plant 12.

Interstate 20, which parallels the facility, was closed shortly after the building collapsed just before 1 p.m. and was closed until around 7 a.m. the next day. Small roads near the facility remained closed and the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency issued shelter-in-place warnings within a two-mile radius that lasted for several weeks. The final order expired on October 17.

More than a dozen lawsuits have been filed in connection with the fire.