### Chemical Plant Fire Prompts Evacuations East of Atlanta

A fire ignited at a chemical facility near Atlanta early Sunday morning, leading local authorities to urge residents in the vicinity to evacuate. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. at the BioLab plant in Conyers, according to Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel. The blaze started due to a malfunction in a sprinkler head, which led to an interaction with a water-reactive chemical, McDaniel reported.

Although the fire on the plant's roof has been contained, the fire department is actively working to clear the hazardous material from both the facility and the water supply. Chief McDaniel emphasized that while the fire is under control, the situation remains precarious. “There was a small fire on the roof, which has been contained, but at that time, right now, there are no other issues,” he stated at a press conference.

Authorities have yet to detail the specific chemical involved in the incident. Residents in the affected zone have been advised to stay indoors with doors and windows closed as a precautionary measure due to the potential for rapid changes in conditions. “We'll tell people to shelter in place, keep your doors and windows closed,” McDaniel added. “Any event, the wind shift, this thing can change really quickly. But once again, shelter in place, windows and doors closed.”

Officials directed residents between Sigman Road and Interstate 20 to evacuate on Sunday morning, while those residing north of Sigman Road were told to shelter in place. Local churches were advised to cancel their services for the day to ensure safety.

As of now, there have been no reports of injuries. This is an evolving situation, and further updates are expected.