After 19 days following a chemical fire at the BioLab facility in Rockdale County, officials have given the all-clear signal, and the shelter-in-place advisory has been lifted. According to FOX5 Atlanta, the move comes as a relief to businesses and residents alike, who are eager to return to normalcy. Rockdale County’s Emergency Management Agency Director Sharon Webb stated, "This morning after a thorough walk-through, the EPA and the EPD and other officials have decided to lift the shelter-in-place order, effective immediately, October 17."
With the shelter in place order lifted, Fire Chief Marian McDaniel announced the safe removal and disposal of about 4 million pounds of trichlor, the main chemical involved. Schools in the area, which had switched to virtual learning because of smoke and cleanup efforts, will reopen for in-person classes on Monday. Cleanup will continue, led by BioLab’s team, in partnership with Texas-based companies and OSHA.
Chairman Oz Nesbitt Sr., while announcing the lifted restrictions, criticized BioLab's absence from the recent news briefing. "Quite frankly, I think it's a slap in the face. The people of this community deserved to hear from the leadership and corporate management of BioLab," Nesbitt told reporters, as noted by FOX5 Atlanta. The response from BioLab has been minimal, apart from establishing an assistance center for affected community members and expressing regret over the fire's impact.
Rockdale County residents were initially evacuated and had to shelter in place due to a fire caused by a faulty sprinkler system last month. Bryan Vasser, an EPA on-site coordinator, reported improvements in air quality, stating that there had been little visible smoke recently. However, concerns about the long-term health effects of chemical exposure persist, leading to several lawsuits against BioLab, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
As Rockdale moves forward from the crisis, addressing future precautions and corporate responsibility is a priority. Chairman Nesbitt indicated that the administration will engage in serious discussions with BioLab's corporate leadership, signaling a shift toward stricter oversight and a review of past agreements with the company.
