RELATED: Conyers BioLab facility violated safety standards at least 18 times, has history of chemical fires: records
The fire at the facility broke out in the early morning hours Sunday after officials said a sprinkler malfunctioned and created a reaction with a "water-reactive chemical." That caused a fire to break through the roof, sending a plume of black smoke into the air on Sunday, prompting concerns from the community. An evacuation order was issued for residents in the immediate vicinity of the facility, and a shelter-in-place order was issued for thousands more residents throughout Rockdale County.