Chemical fire closes section of I-20 between Augusta and Atlanta

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

Officials said it also led to shelter-in-place orders, evacuations and other road closures.

Around 5 a.m., a sprinkler system at the BioLab facility on Old Covington Highway in Conyers failed, spraying water onto a chemical, causing a reaction that created a large, dangerous plume of smoke that then began drifting northeast, Marian McDaniel said Rockdale County Fire Chief said just after 10 p.m

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

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

Officials said I-20 will be closed in both directions between Salem Road and Turner Hill. The Georgia State Patrol was called in to assist with traffic control in the area, the sheriff's office said.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, on behalf of the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency, has issued a shelter-in-place order for residents in the northern half of the county above Sigman Road. These residents should stay indoors with their windows and doors closed and their air conditioning systems turned off.

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