The statewide shelter-in-place order remains in place following a chemical plant fire in Rockdale County

CONYERS, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Rockdale County residents are still away from their homes after being evacuated due to an incident at a chemical plant Sunday morning. And a curfew still applies to others in the district.

Rockdale County officials released the latest update on the situation at 3:30 a.m. Monday morning

A sprinkler system at the BioLab facility on Old Covington Highway in Conyers failed Sunday morning, spraying water onto a chemical, causing a reaction that resulted in a large, dangerous cloud.

BioLab is described on its website as “the swimming pool and spa water care division of KIK Consumer Products based in Lawrenceville, Georgia.”

RELATED: Rockdale County Chemical Plant Fire Extinguished; The shelter-in-place order has been expanded to include the entire county

The massive cloud of smoke led to some roads having to be closed. Rockdale County officials say Interstate 20 east and west will remain closed from Turner Hill Road to Almon Road due to the “unpredictable trajectory and wind direction that could change the direction of airborne irritants.”

According to GDOT, all lanes are closed on I-20 East at Evans Mill Road (Exit 74) in DeKalb County due to heavy smoke in the area. Traffic was diverted onto Evans Mill Road. Motorists are strongly advised to use alternative routes as there is currently no estimated release time.

Rockdale County announced that all government buildings will remain closed Monday. The school system was already on its planned fall break. Newton County schools will remain closed Monday as a precautionary measure.

Local emergency responders provided a map of the evacuation zone. This is an 8 square mile area north of I-20.

County officials said the evacuation order affects about 17,000 people. Safe havens have been set up for evacuees.

Evacuation points have been set up at the following locations.

• Old Cousins/Wolverine Gym, located at 8134 Geiger Street in Covington
• Boy Scout Camp at 218 Scout Road in Covington
• General Ray Davis Middle School at 3375 E Fairview Road SW in Stockbridge

DeKalb County has also opened the Lucious Sanders Recreation Center at 2484 Bruce Street in Lithonia for those affected. According to DeKalb County, DeKalb County Emergency Management has provided 200 cots.

Officials said residents with questions about the current situation should call the Rockdale County EMA hotline at 770-278-8300.

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