Chemical fire closes stretch of I-20 between Augusta, Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – An incident at a Rockdale County chemical facility has closed a section of Interstate 20 between Augusta and Atlanta.

It also prompted a shelter-in-place order, evacuations and other road closures, officials said.

Around 5 a.m., a sprinkler at the BioLab facility on Old Covington Highway in Conyers malfunctioned and sprayed water on a chemical, causing a reaction that created a large, hazardous smoke plume, which then began drifting to the northeast, Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel said shortly after 10 a.m.

The malfunction also caused a small fire on the BioLab roof, which was contained, McDaniel said.

The fire has since reignited, and a huge plume of smoke is billowing from the facility, prompting an evacuation order for anyone between Sigman Road and I-20, according to county officials. Anyone in the evacuation zone needs to leave the area, officials said. Anyone outside the zone is asked to stay away.

Officials said I-20 would be blocked off in both directions between Salem Road and Turner Hill. The Georgia State Patrol has been called in to help with traffic control in the area, the sheriff’s office said.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has issued a shelter-in-place order on behalf of the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency for residents in the north half of the county, above Sigman Road. Those residents should remain indoors with the windows and doors closed, and should turn off their air conditioners.

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