A fire at a Georgia chemical plant is forcing evacuations and road closures

A fire at a chemical plant in Georgia, apparently caused by a faulty sprinkler head, prompted evacuations and road closures in the area Sunday morning.

A fire at a chemical plant in Georgia, apparently caused by a malfunctioning sprinkler head, prompted evacuations and road closures in the area Sunday morning, Rockdale County officials said.

The incident occurred around 5 a.m. ET at the BioLab in Conyers, Ga. Water from a defective sprinkler head "contacted a water-reactive chemical and produced a plume of smoke," county officials explained on their website.

CNN has reached out to BioLab, described as a maker of pool and spa treatment products, for comment.

A fire broke out on the roof and firefighters were able to contain the blaze, but hours later it reignited, Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levitt said in a video message posted on Facebook.

"I'm asking all of you to please spread the word to stay out of the area at this time," Leavitt said. "It burns very well. "We're trying to get it under control, but we're also trying to get the traffic under control."

Roads in the area are closed and residents between Sigman Road and Interstate 20 are being asked to evacuate. Additionally, the highway is closed in both directions between Salem Road and Turner Hill. The sheriff said he will request assistance from the Georgia Department of Public Safety and the Georgia State Police.

Residents north of Sigman were asked to shelter in place and keep their windows closed.

The health departments of Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties also asked nearby residents to turn off air conditioners "to minimize exposure to potential hazards."

In September 2020, the BioLab experienced a “thermal decomposition event” that also resulted in a fire that temporarily closed Highway 20.

In its final report on the incident, the US Chemical Safety Board found that strong winds from Hurricane Laura damaged the lab's warehouse and allowed rainwater to enter the building. The water came into contact with a chemical and started a reaction that caused the fire.

Conyers is about 30 miles east of Atlanta.

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