In the early hours of September 29, 2024, the residents of Rockdale County, Georgia, awoke to an unfamiliar darkness: not the quiet cover of night, but the ominous black of chemical smoke pouring from Bio-Lab Inc.’s chemical plant in Conyers. A malfunctioning sprinkler hit water-reactive chemicals on the plant’s roof, and flames devoured the facility, releasing a plume of chlorine-laden smoke so vast it could be seen thirty miles away. What followed was a two-day ordeal of evacuation, shelter-in-place orders, road closures, and a near shutdown of daily life in Rockdale County. But the toxic fallout from this fire has left a residue of long-term fears and health concerns that are not so easily extinguished.
For decades, Bio-Lab’s Conyers plant—a cornerstone in North America’s chlorine and chemical supply chain for pools and spas—has weathered multiple fires, chlorine leaks, and now, accusations of corporate neglect. Plaintiffs Fannie and Albert Tartt, lifelong residents of Rockdale, have filed a lawsuit against Bio-Lab Inc. and KIK Consumer Products Inc., seeking compensation for themselves and the broader community. The lawsuit paints a devastating portrait of a corporate entity with a history of incidents involving toxic chemical releases and fires dating back to at least 2004, all culminating in this most recent blaze that left Rockdale gasping for air.
In filing the class action, the Tartts allege Bio-Lab and KIK engaged in “utter indifference” to safety protocols, knowing full well the risks of their chemical-laden processes yet failing to act responsibly to safeguard both workers and residents.
An Avoidable Disaster?
The Conyers plant has a well-documented record of hazardous incidents. A 2004 fire injured 28 people and sent a toxic chlorine plume across 50 miles, sparking massive evacuations. Another fire in 2016 forced a one-mile evacuation after a storage shed caught fire due to a chlorine reaction. In 2020, a water line leak triggered a chemical reaction that released chlorine fumes measured at twelve times the federally permissible exposure limit. But despite these repeated warnings, Bio-Lab’s safety measures remained alarmingly inadequate, failing to address water-reactive chemicals appropriately or to maintain an effective fire suppression system.
For the Conyers community, these incidents have worn thin any pretense of trust in Bio-Lab’s safety claims. The September fire has laid bare a larger concern: What happens when a company places profits over people’s safety, failing to upgrade its protocols despite years of dangerous mishaps?
The lawsuit’s grievances include a range of health and property damages. From direct health risks—exposure to chlorine and other toxic chemicals—to economic impacts, such as property devaluation and lost business income, the toll on Rockdale County’s residents is steep. The plaintiffs seek injunctive relief to compel Bio-Lab to implement robust safety systems and a sweeping cleanup of affected areas, an effort to restore not only their homes but also their dignity.
Toxic Fallout and Long-Lasting Impact
For residents like the Tartts, life has not returned to normal. The initial evacuation displaced 17,000 residents, and shelter-in-place orders affected over 77,000 people, shutting down schools, businesses, and even the local hospital. The toxic plume infiltrated homes, leaving ash and dust on property, while air quality testing detected chlorine at unsafe levels. Local officials advised residents to turn off air conditioners and keep pets indoors—a measure that hardly comforts those worried about the unseen health risks settling in their lungs.
Beyond the immediate threat, this environmental exposure could have lingering health impacts. Chlorine, when inhaled over time, can cause respiratory issues, skin irritation, and worsen chronic conditions like asthma. For Rockdale County, where economic resilience often teeters precariously, the potential for long-term health consequences adds insult to injury. For many, the fire has inflicted an invisible tax—on their health, their property, and their peace of mind.
The Social Cost of Corporate Neglect
For a company that promotes itself as an industry leader in water care chemicals, Bio-Lab’s disregard for its own operational safety paints a dark picture of modern corporate ethics. Critics argue that incidents like these expose an uncomfortable truth: When profit margins overshadow community welfare, corporate responsibility becomes little more than a marketing slogan. The Conyers fire is a poignant example of what happens when regulatory oversight falters, and when companies exploit cost-cutting at the expense of the communities that host them.
Community advocates and environmental justice organizations have seized on this latest incident, calling for stricter enforcement and updated regulations for chemical plants. Many in Rockdale County now wonder whether Bio-Lab’s presence brings more harm than benefit, questioning the company’s commitment to responsible industrial practices. As the lawsuit seeks to address, for Rockdale to heal, Bio-Lab must not only foot the bill for physical cleanup but also begin to restore its shattered reputation among the people it serves.
Corporate Responsibility or Corporate Exploitation?
The Conyers fire may soon be extinguished, but its legacy will linger in Rockdale County for years to come. For Bio-Lab, this lawsuit may mark a reckoning—an opportunity to rebuild trust through genuine reform. But for the people of Conyers, true justice can only be achieved if companies like Bio-Lab stop taking communities for granted and begin treating the places they operate as homes deserving of protection, not as expendable assets on a corporate balance sheet.
Bio-labs is owned by Aerosols Danville Inc.