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Georgia residents evacuate as toxic smoke billows from inferno at chemical plant

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Georgia residents evacuate as toxic smoke billows from inferno at chemical plant


Georgia officials are asking some residents to evacuate after a fire at a chemical plant started spreading toxic smoke on Sunday.

The fire began at the BioLab plant in Conyers – which is located around 32 miles southeast of Atlanta – at 5 a.m. on Sunday, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. BioLab is a company that produces pool chemicals, according to its website.

BioLab told Fox News Digital that they are “actively responding” to the incident.

“Our employees are accounted for with no injuries reported,” a spokesperson said. “Our team is on the scene, working with first responders and local authorities to assess and contain the situation. As always, the safety of our community remains our top priority.”

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By the afternoon, the smoke clouds were emanating from the facility and huge billows of multicolored clouds still polluted the air.

During a press conference on Sunday morning, Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel said that a sprinkler head at the facility malfunctioned and “caus[ed] a mixture with a water reactive chemical.”

Smoke coming from a BioLab plan in Conyers, Georgia on Sept. 29, 2024. Facebook/Christa Hawkins Hinkley
Georgia officials have asked some nearby residents to evacuate the area due to the plant fire. Facebook/Christa Hawkins Hinkley

Social media video of the fire shows gigantic clouds of smoke visible from I-20, which had been blocked off between Salem Road and Turner Hill on Sunday afternoon.

Authorities say that those who live south of I-20 are safe, but those who live north of I-20 or between I-20 and Sigman Road are asked to evacuate.

“Please evacuate the area if you are inside this zone,” Rockdale County officials said in a Facebook post. “I-20 will be blocked off in both directions between Salem Rd and Turner Hill.”

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Plumes of smoke seen near a highway near Conyers. Facebook/Christa Hawkins Hinkley
The plant produces pool chemicals. Facebook/Christa Hawkins Hinkley

During a Sunday press conference, Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett told residents that “this is not the time to do any type of sightseeing.”

“We are strongly encouraging everyone, no matter where you’re coming from, but especially Rockdale residents, to stay out of this area for the safety of yourself, and for the safety of all personnel that are out here already that have to work this type of incident,” the official advised.

The Rockdale County Animal Services asked residents within the evacuation area to bring their animals along with them.

No employees reported any injuries in the plant fire, a company spokesperson said. Facebook/Christa Hawkins Hinkley

“Please, if you’re in the evacuation area, take your pets with you. Please do not leave them behind,” the organization said. “We are loaded and getting the 50+ shelter animals out of the area and to safety.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office for additional information.

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Fox News Digital’s Kyle Schmidbauer contributed to this report.



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Notre Dame vs. Georgia: Odds and how to watch the Allstate Sugar Bowl

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Notre Dame vs. Georgia: Odds and how to watch the Allstate Sugar Bowl


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The first round of the College Football Playoff lived up to expectations, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish claimed a quarterfinal spot after defeating the Indiana Hoosiers in snowy South Bend, Indiana. The Fighting Irish will face the No. 2 seeded Georgia Bulldogs in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish secured their first playoff victory in the new era of the College Football Playoff with a 27-17 win over Indiana. Quarterback Riley Leonard delivered a stellar performance against the Hoosiers, completing 71.9% of his passes for 201 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while also scoring a touchdown on the ground. On defense, safety Xavier Watts was the standout player, recording 10 tackles and an interception to help the Fighting Irish clinch the victory.

The Bulldogs, who received a bye, are gearing up for a run at the College Football Playoff without their starting quarterback, Carson Beck. He will likely be sidelined due to an elbow injury on his throwing arm, which he sustained during the final play of the first half in the SEC Championship game against Texas. This injury forced him to leave the game early. Sophomore Gunner Stockton stepped in and successfully led the Bulldogs to a 22-19 victory. Gunner has a completion rate of 78.1% and has thrown for 206 yards in the three games he played this season. He is expected to lead the offense moving forward.

Here is everything to know ahead of kickoff at the All-State Sugar Bowl.

Allstate Sugar Bowl odds, lines: Notre Dame vs. Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs are favorites to defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, according to the BetMGM college football odds.

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Odds as of afternoon on Saturday, Dec. 21.

  • Spread: Georgia (-1.5)
  • Moneylines: Georgia (-120); Notre Dame (+102)
  • Over/under: 44.5

How to watch Notre Dame vs. Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl

  • Date: Wednesday, Jan. 1
  • Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN
  • Stream: Fubo
  • Where: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, LA)

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Georgia Disaster Recovery Centers to be closed for Christmas, New Year holidays

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Georgia Disaster Recovery Centers to be closed for Christmas, New Year holidays


ATLANTA, Ga. (WALB) – All Georgia Disaster Recovery Centers will be closed for the holidays.

For the upcoming Christmas holiday, the centers will be closed from Tuesday, Dec. 24, until Thursday, Dec. 26.

The centers will be closed from Tuesday, Dec. 31, until Thursday, Jan. 2, for the New Year holiday.

All centers are also closed on Sundays.

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While the centers are closed, you can call the FEMA helpline at (800) 621-3362, or apply or check your application on https://www.disasterassistance.gov/. The helpline will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Survivors may visit any one of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the state to apply for assistance. Click here to find a center near you.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

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Notre Dame vs. Georgia opening odds: Date, time, point spread and total for Sugar Bowl, CFP quarterfinal

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Notre Dame vs. Georgia opening odds: Date, time, point spread and total for Sugar Bowl, CFP quarterfinal


The first victory of the new 12-team College Football Playoff goes to Notre Dame, as Marcus Freeman and the Irish blasted Indiana at home in South Bend to advance on to the quarterfinal. Their reward? A date with No. 2 seed Georgia, which earned a first-round bye after outlasting Texas in a classic SEC Championship Game earlier this month.

After a dominant performance against the Hoosiers, Notre Dame won’t be scared of anybody. The Irish defensive front manhandled the nation’s top scoring offense, while Jeremiyah Love and Co. outrushed Indiana 193-63. Notre Dame was the physically superior team from the opening snap, but now the competition ratchets up considerably against one of the most talented teams in the country. Which of these two teams is installed as the early favorite? The early spread and total have been released, so let’s break it all down.

Time: Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.

According to FanDuel, Notre Dame opened up as 1.5-point favorites. However, the spread quickly flipped, and UGA became a 1.5-point favorite. There was also movement with the total, which opened at 46.5 before dropping to 45.5.

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The big unknown looming over this game is Georgia’s QB situation, as redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton is set to start for the Dawgs with Carson Beck unavailable due to an arm injury suffered in the conference title game against Texas. (Beck is likely out for the rest of Georgia’s season, with Smart saying earlier this week that his quarterback is still weighing surgical options.)

Of course, Stockton still did just enough to lead Georgia to a dramatic OT win over Texas in Atlanta, completing 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards (albeit with one brutal interception). And when this Georgia team is rolling, they’re commanding on both lines of scrimmage, capable of bullying just about anyone in the country. Even with Beck out, you can understand why Vegas would consider the Dawgs a slight favorite, especially considering that we still haven’t seen Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard succeed when pressed against a great defense.

Still, an essential pick ’em here feels about right, considering how stout both of these defenses are and how battled tested these teams have proven themselves to be.



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