A shelter-in-place directive continues to be in place on Monday across certain areas of greater Atlanta following a chemical fire at a pool cleaning plant, which released large clouds of black smoke into the atmosphere, led to evacuations, and caused road closures, affecting a major access route into Atlanta.

The incident began Sunday at approximately 5 a.m. at a BioLab facility located in Conyers, stated Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett. Conyers, the county’s administrative center, is situated around 25 miles east of Atlanta.

While the fire was put out earlier in the day, a flare-up occurred on the roof due to water from a faulty sprinkler interacting with a chemical that reacts with water, resulting in additional smoke, as reported by county officials.

As of Monday, there have been no serious injuries reported.

The shelter-in-place order has been extended without a specified end date, according to a morning update from Rockdale County officials.

The health departments of Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale have advised residents nearby to turn off their air conditioning units and remain indoors to reduce potential exposure to harmful substances.

East Atlanta’s Interstate 20 is Closed

The fire led to evacuations, closed numerous local roads, and halted traffic on Interstate 20 for several hours.

By early Monday morning, officials announced the highway had reopened.

Residents living in Conyers between Interstate 20 and Sigman Road were placed under an evacuation order, and many streets in that vicinity remain closed, according to the latest update provided on Monday.

The exact cause and source of the fire are still being investigated.

For additional updates, please check the Rockdale County website.