**Chemical Plant Fire Prompts Evacuations and Shelter Orders East of Atlanta**

A chemical plant fire in Conyers, Georgia, east of Atlanta, led to evacuations and shelter-in-place orders on Sunday, as a towering plume of dark smoke was visible from miles away, even reaching Atlanta's international airport 30 miles away. The incident forced the shutdown of Interstate 20 in both directions, leading to significant traffic congestion.

The fire reportedly began around 5 am due to a malfunctioning sprinkler head at the BioLab plant, which caused water to mix with a reactive chemical, producing a dangerous plume of contaminants. Though employees were present within the facility at the time, no injuries were initially reported, according to the Rockdale County fire chief, Marian McDaniel.

Federal and state tests have identified chlorine in the air, raising health concerns. Exposure to high concentrations of chlorine can cause breathing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. Despite this, officials issued a public safety alert stating that chemical levels were not expected to harm most people, yet a "local area emergency" was still declared.

The BioLab facility, part of KIK Consumer Products, specializes in swimming pool and spa water care. The company's representative confirmed that all employees were accounted for and unharmed. First responders and local authorities are actively working to assess and contain the situation.

A small fire initially contained on the plant's roof reignited on Sunday afternoon, compounding the challenges for emergency crews. Residents in northern Rockdale County, particularly north of Interstate 20, were instructed to evacuate, while others were told to stay indoors with windows and doors closed. An estimated 17,000 Conyers residents and 100,000 people in the surrounding Rockdale area were affected by these orders.

Sharon Webb, the county emergency management director, noted that both the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Georgia's environmental protection division were on-site to monitor air quality and identify the plume's composition. Fire crews continue to work diligently to remove the reactive chemical from the plant and ensure safety before lifting the evacuation and shelter-in-place orders.