A shelter in place order has been extended indefinitely after a fire at a chemical plant in Georgia sparked an unstoppable chemical reaction.
The order was issued for more than 90,000 residents of Rockdale County after the fire at BioLab in Conyers sent a massive plume of dark smoke high into the sky that could been seen from miles away.
The Sunday afternoon fire led to about 17,000 evacuations after a sprinkler at the facility malfunctioned and sprayed water on a chemical, sparking an explosion.
BioLab manufactures pool and spa treatment products - including chlorine.
The order was issued for all of Rockdale County on Monday after the fire at BioLab in Conyers
The Sunday afternoon fire led to about 17,000 evacuations after a sprinkler at the facility malfunctioned and sprayed water on a chemical, sparking an explosion
Air quality surveys done by the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Environmental Protection Division revealed the harmful irritant chlorine detected in the air from the fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia, the Rockdale County Government said in statement early Monday.
For everyone sheltering in place, the best practice is to turn the air conditioning off and keep windows and doors shut, the statement said of the accident that has affected the entire county.
The fire was brought under control around 4pm Sunday, officials said.
Interstate 20, which was shut down in both directions in the area on Sunday, was reopened Monday morning, officials said.
People in the northern part of Rockdale County, north of Interstate 20, were ordered to evacuate on Sunday and others were told to shelter in place.