A chemical reaction following a fire at a chemical plant on Sunday morning in the US state of Georgia forced the evacuation of more than 15,000 people.
A fire broke out on the roof of the BioLab plant in Conyers, about 30 minutes from Atlanta, around 5 a.m., reports CNN.
Water from a faulty sprinkler then came into contact with a chemical that reacts with water, which produced a plume of smoke, according to Rockdale County officials posted on their website. .
The BioLab company specializes in maintenance products for swimming pools and spas, according to its website.
Firefighters were able to put out the fire, but it reignited within the next few hours, Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett said in a Facebook live video.
The fire was extinguished around 4 p.m., according to Rockdale County Fire Protection and Rescue Department Chief Marian McDaniel.
In a video broadcast live on Facebook, she explained that the plume of smoke that results from the chemical reaction can still be seen for miles and could cause problems for residents in the area.
The woman said the smoke may be visible for several days.
The cause of the fire and the chemicals involved have not been revealed.
An evacuation order was issued for residents and businesses in a neighborhood in the path of the wind-borne smoke.
Around 17,000 people were evacuated, according to CNN.
