ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — A chemical fire in Rockdale County has caused the closure of several county and city offices, as well as schools nearby.
It all started around 5:30 a.m. Sunday when a sprinkler system malfunctioned inside the Biolab facility along Old Covington Highway, which seems to have mixed with a chemical creating a plume. You can see the smoke billowing miles into the sky.
The fire has caused evacuations of people who live nearby and a shelter-in-place was ordered for all county residents until midnight.
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- I-20 closed, 17,000 in evacuation zone, residents to shelter in place
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- Newton Co. Schools closed Monday due to potential Biolab impact
- PHOTOS: Rockdale County chemical plant burns for hours
Here is a list of closures for Monday:
- Rockdale County Courthouse and Court Services Annexes
- Rockdale County Tax Commissioner’s Office
- Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Office
- Rockdale County Administration Building
- Rockdale County Planning and Development Department
- Rockdale County Stormwater Department
- Rockdale County Water Resources (RWR)
- Rockdale County Extension Services
- Rockdale County Elections Office
- Rockdale County Senior Services
- Rockdale County Animal Services
- Newton County Schools and offices
- Newton County government offices, however, the Newton County Judicial Center will remain open.
- Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s Newton and Rockdale campuses will be closed until further notice.
- Rockdale County Schools are off this week, with 12-hour staff to work remotely.
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