### Chemical Plant Fire Leads to Strong Smell and Shelter-in-Place Orders for Thousands in Atlanta Area

A powerful chemical odor is hanging over the Atlanta area following a fire at a chemical plant in Conyers, Georgia. The blaze has led to more than 90,000 residents being instructed to stay indoors due to the detection of chlorine, a harmful irritant, in the air.

According to the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency, investigations are ongoing into reports of a haze and potent chemical smell across Fulton County, likely stemming from the BioLab fire that ignited on Sunday. BioLab, a company specializing in pool chemicals, experienced a malfunction at its Conyers facility, leading to a fire around 5 a.m. this past Sunday, which was extinguished later that day.

Rockdale County, where the plant is located, has mandated residents to remain sheltered after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPD) detected chlorine in the air. The Rockdale County government has since advised that all businesses also close until the shelter-in-place order is rescinded.

Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel reported that a malfunctioning sprinkler head at BioLab caused an unwanted reaction with a water-reactive chemical, compounding the issue. In response to the situation, both the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are carrying out air quality checks.

Mayor Andre Dickens assured the community via a post on X that, despite the circumstances, no warnings or advisories have been issued for Atlanta itself. He emphasized that local and state efforts are being coordinated to maintain public safety.

BioLab has stated its commitment to resolving the situation, noting that they are working with first responders and local authorities. They've also brought in specialized teams from out of state to expedite the remediation process.

Authorities advise residents in affected areas to keep their air conditioning off and their windows and doors closed while sheltering. The ongoing priority remains ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the community.