Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of people who were exposed to toxic chemicals from the BioLab Plant Fire in Conyers, Georgia.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting BioLab Plant Fire induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was evacuated or injured by chemicals from the BioLab Plant Fire in Conyers, Georgia, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Toxic Chemical Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Class Action Lawsuits Filed Against BioLab
Law firms have filed multiple class action lawsuits for people in Rockdale County, Georgia who were exposed to toxic chemicals from the BioLab Chemical Plant, including chlorine gas.
What Do These Lawsuits Claim?
These lawsuits accuse the pool chemical company BioLab of negligent safety procedures, which led to a release of toxic chemicals that contaminated the air in Rockdale County. The lawsuits list several toxic chemicals, including:
- Chlorine gas
- Hydrochloric acid
- Bromide
- Phosgene
Chemical Plume Linked to TCAA and Chlorine Gas
The lawsuit claims that BioLab failed to store hazardous chemicals safely. For example, trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCAA) was allegedly stored in 2,750-pound “super sacks” on warehouse floors, according to investigators with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board:
“When TCCA comes into contact with small amounts of water and does not dissolve, it can undergo a chemical reaction that generates heat, causing the decomposition of TCCA, which produces toxic chlorine gas.”
BioLab Plant Fire & Chemical Plume Forces Evacuations in Conyers, Georgia
In September 2024, about 17,000 people were told to evacuate from the city of Conyers, Georgia after a fire and a plume of chemicals from the BioLab Plant.
Due to the uncertain health risk, thousands of people nearby were told to shelter-in-place with windows closed and A/C off, local roads and Interstate-20 were closed, and state officials warned people to stay away from the area.
What Chemicals Caused The BioLab Fire?
It is not clear what chemical(s) were involved in the massive BioLab fire in September 2024, but it was a chemical that reacted with water.
Authorities said a malfunctioning sprinkler system caused water to mix with a water-reactive chemical, which produced a plume of chemicals.
What Happened?
On Sunday, September 29, 2024, a sprinkler head malfunctioned at the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia at around 5 a.m.
“The water came in contact with a water-reactive chemical and produced a plume. A small fire broke out on the roof,” according to an Emergency Situation Update from the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency.
BioLab Fire Causes Plume Of Water-Reactive Chemicals
The small fire on the roof of the BioLab plant was contained early on Sunday morning, but it re-ignited on Sunday afternoon. That fire was also extinguished, but a plume of chemicals continued to rise from the BioLab plant because water reacts with chemicals at the facility.
EPA Testing Air Quality For Toxic Chemicals
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is on-site at the BioLab plant fire to monitor the air, and take samples from the plume to determine what chemicals were involved. This will “give us more of an idea of what the plume consists of,” an EPA spokesperson explained.
What Is BioLab?
BioLab is a pool and spa chemical manufacturing facility in Conyers, Georgia. The company makes a variety of “specialty chemicals” and other cleaning products for swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs. BioLab is owned by KIK Consumer Products, which is based in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
History Of BioLab Chemical Accidents
Past chemical incidents in 2004 and 2020 at BioLab have involved chlorine or water-reactive chemicals. There have also been reports of people who needed medical attention for breathing problems and irritation due to these chemicals.
2020 BioLab Plant Chemical Incident Causes Evacuations
In September 2020, there was another chemical incident at the BioLab Plant in Conyers that resulted in evacuations, shelter-in-place orders, and stopped traffic on Interstate-20, according to local news. BioLab said it was not a fire, but a “chemical reaction,” that created a plume of smoke.
2004 BioLab Plant Fire Linked to Chlorine; 9 People Hospitalized
In May 2004, at least 9 people were treated at local hospitals after yet another massive BioLab fire in Conyers. The victims had trouble breathing or irritation due to burning chemicals and smoke in the air.
Authorities said chlorine and other chemicals were involved in the 2004 BioLab fire. The fire started in a chemical warehouse, which set off a chain-reaction that triggered multiple explosions as it spread.
Local residents reported seeing plumes of “gray, green and white smoke,” and smelling chlorine and other chemicals in the air.
Emergency officials warned that “chlorine is certainly dangerous to people with respiratory conditions in particular.” People who were still in the area were urged to close windows and turn off air conditioning.
No Excuse For Chemical Plant Fires
Chemicals are volatile by nature, but accidents are preventable. If mistakes have been made in the past, solutions must be found. There is no excuse for ongoing problems at a chemical facility, especially near homes and businesses.
Accidents at chemical plants can be devastating for the local community. Ongoing problems are even more alarming. There is no excuse for ongoing, repeated problems with fires and other accidents at a chemical facility.
Health Risks
There are health risks to everyone who breathes toxic chemicals in the air, but especially children and people at high-risk of breathing problems due to underlying health issues. They are more likely to need medical attention.
Economic Risks
There are also economic risks to the local community when a chemical plant has a fire, chemical plume, spill, or other type of accident. This can harm businesses, property values, close roads, or negatively impact the economy.
Who Is Eligible?
Our law firm is investigating lawsuits involving people who were harmed by the BioLab plant fire in Conyers, Georgia. You could be eligible to file a lawsuit if you were evacuated, had health problems, needed medical attention, or suffered lost income due to shelter-in-place orders or road closures in the area.
Can I Join a Class Action Lawsuit?
Our law firm will investigate cases for people who were harmed by the BioLab plant fire in Conyers. You may be eligible to join a class action or file a lawsuit.
Class action lawsuits are filed by a “class representative” on behalf of a much larger group of people who are all seeking justice. If financial compensation is awarded, the payout is shared with everyone who qualifies to join the lawsuit.
Do I Have a BioLab Plant Fire Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting BioLab Plant Fire induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was evacuated or injured by chemicals from the BioLab Plant Fire in Conyers, Georgia, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Toxic Chemical Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
