Rockdale residents start organizing to hold BioLab, county leaders accountable for chemical fire [Video]

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – People living and working in Rockdale County are demanding answers in the wake of the chemical fire at BioLab that happened near the end of September.

Dozens of community members, business owners, leaders and activists gathered inside Empowerment Unlimited Church in Conyers Wednesday morning.

Among them, local business owner Kirk Lofton who said he can’t keep the doors to his tailor shop open.

“When I went down there, my eyes immediately started burning. My throat started getting scratchy,” said Lofton.

The chemical fire broke out Sunday, September 29, but a haze still lingers over the city.

Avi Gayden, who’s running as a write-in candidate for a seat on the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners, questions why county leaders allowed BioLab to continue to operate after at least two other similar incidents since 2004.

“We applaud them for the intervention and the first responders, but we need prevention,” said Gayden.

The …