### Chemical Fire Sparks Outrage in Conyers: Calls to Shutdown BioLab Intensify

A large plume of smoke billowing into the sky in Conyers, Georgia, has reignited longstanding concerns about the dangers posed by a local chemical plant. The BioLab pool and spa chemical company was the scene of an accident that forced the evacuation of local residents and the issuance of a shelter-in-place order affecting tens of thousands of people in the wider Atlanta area, approximately 25 miles to the west. The pervasive smell of chlorine was noted across much of the region, amplifying public unease.

For Vonnetta West, a community consultant who has lived in Conyers for 15 years, the sight of the smoke from her deck was a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking nearby. Notably, this incident marks the third significant accident at BioLab in the past two decades. "It reminded me of the need to care about each other, people over profit," she stated. West took to social media to urge her neighbors to stay indoors and expressed her frustration with the facility, advocating for its permanent closure.

The call for action was echoed by another resident, Shelly Thompson, who quickly amassed over 1,500 signatures on a Change.org petition to shut down BioLab. Comments on the petition highlighted a pattern of perceived negligence and called for an end to what they described as ongoing environmental pollution affecting local neighborhoods.

The chemical fire prompted authorities to enact emergency measures, including partial city evacuations and shelter-in-place directives for the surrounding Rockdale County. Social media was abuzz with reports and visual evidence of the event, spreading concerns from Conyers to the wider metro area. Sarah Teach, a spokesperson for Piedmont Rockdale hospital, affirmed that although patients were initially evacuated, they were later advised to remain in place as conditions evolved.

This latest incident comes at a particularly challenging time for residents like West, who are also grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. For many, the fire felt like yet another burden in an already stressful period.

Not everyone adhered to the shelter-in-place orders, however. Angela, a lifelong resident of Conyers, and her husband chose to go to work as usual, despite the visible smoke. The situation in the city by Monday afternoon showed signs of improvement, although authorities warned that chemical reactions were still producing some smoke.

The parent company of BioLab, Kik Consumer Products, based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, has remained largely silent on the issue. Their official statement emphasized community safety but left many questions unanswered. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently monitoring air quality but has assured that chemical levels are "unlikely to cause harm to most people"—an assertion that failed to provide comfort to some concerned locals.

Peter Stolmeier, another long-term Conyers resident, expressed gratitude that conditions seemed to be stabilizing but also shared broader community concerns. "Just about everyone I've spoken to agrees that three major accidents are too many," he noted. Stolmeier, like many others, hopes that lessons will be learned, and BioLab will not resume operations.

As the citizens of Conyers contend with the immediate aftermath of the fire, their collective voice grows louder in demanding safety and accountability from local industry leaders.