Thousands told to stay home a day after chemical plant fire sent a plume containing chlorine high into the air [Video]

CONYERS, Ga. — Thousands of people were told to stay home with their windows shut Monday after a Sunday fire at a Georgia chemical plant caused a chemical reaction that forced around 17,000 people to evacuate and left potentially harmful chlorine lingering in the air.

Residents and businesses were told to evacuate the area around the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia, after the blaze broke out early Sunday morning. A shelter-in-place advisory is ongoing for around 90,000 people in Rockdale County.

The plume from the chemical reaction that followed the outbreak of the fire could be seen for miles – and officials on Monday were cautioning those left in the area to stay indoors with their windows closed and air conditioners off.

Conyers is about 30 miles east of Atlanta.

Both sides of Interstate 20 reopened Monday after authorities shut down portions of the highway Sunday citing “unpredictable path and wind direction, which could change the direction of the irritants in …