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Shelter-in-place issued in Roberta due to chemical plant fire
AP: Olin makes epoxy systems that are used primarily in the fabrication of wind turbine blades, according to the local Chamber of Commerce's website.
Credit: The EMA director says a fire at the Olin Epoxy plant is releasing dangerous chemicals into the air | 13WMAZ Staff | July 15, 2021 | www.13wmaz.com ~~
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ROBERTA, Ga. – People in Crawford County are still under a shelter-in-place order after a fire broke out at Olin Chemical Plant Thursday morning following what the Crawford County fire department called a chemical reaction.
The county’s emergency management office sent out alerts saying people around Roberta should shelter in place.
“My wife texted me. She said they had some kind of ‘code red stay-at-home order,'” said Ejay Freeman, who lives in Roberta.
He says he appreciates the way the county handled it.
“I just think it’s pretty cool that they did that just to make sure the residents are safe. I rather for them to be safe than sorry,” Freeman said.
Officials asked people to shelter due to an odor that was headed from the plant into the city, caused by what EMA director Rick Sharon calls an unexpected chemical reaction.
“An incorrect reaction is taking place in the tank, causing it to heat up, and then we have the release again, and we’re waiting for everything to cool back down,” Sharon explained.
Sharon says the chemicals involved are part of a mix that makes epoxy resin used to make the lines on roadways and bridges.
He says they’ve tried to drown the blaze in water.
“Every 15 minutes, they stop the water to see if the reaction is stopping, and so far, it is not. Once we stop that, then the temperature goes back up again,” said Sharon.
According to Sharon, his team has prepared for an event like this.
“We exercise and we train with their chemical, with their folks inside. We do prepare, but you can always have the unexpected things occur,” he said.
Sharon said that shelter-in-place order stays in effect until further notice.
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The Crawford County Fire Department is currently fighting a fire at the Olin Epoxy plant.
The county’s emergency management office sent a text alert to people in town warning about the fire, and they’re advising people to stay away from Industrial Parkway.
EMA Director Ricky Sharon says they’re asking for people in Roberta to shelter-in-place because the fire is releasing dangerous toxins into the air.
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