A cloudy haze settled over Eatonton and Putnam County on Monday and Tuesday, and many people called the 911 center complaining of the strong chlorine odor, according to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, who also serves as the county’s Emergency Management Agency director.
The haze and odor are believed to be from a fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers. The fire reportedly happened Sunday at the chemical plant, which manufactures water treatment products for swimming pools and spas. Plumes of smoke caused people in areas immediately around the plant to be either evacuated or required to shelter inside.
Sills has remained updated on the situation, specifically regarding the atmospheric conditions in Putnam County.
“We have been told the chlorine odor is not dangerous unless you have a pre-existing respiratory condition,” he said.
Sills clarified that “warning and protecting the public is the duty of the sheriff, not the job of the EMA director” and explained that he was receiving notices from Rockdale County EMA. He noted that the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) is referring to Rockdale at present.
“They are advising us that should you smell a strong odor of chlorine, you should simply stay indoors,” he added. “Should these conditions change to a threatening situation, you will be informed of such.”