Multiple neighborhoods are evacuated as explosions rip through chemical plant on Georgia’s coast, sending a large plume of thick smoke into the air

  • An uncontrolled fire broke out at the Symrise chemical plant in Brunswick on Monday morning and multiple explosions have been reported
  • The chemical that ignited the fire in the fragrance chemical plant was hydrogen peroxide pinene
  • Neighborhoods one mile away have been ordered to evacuate, including Sanctuary Cove, Satilla Shores, Hickory Bluff, and Royal Oaks
  • All employees were evacuated from the power plant without injuries - but one firefighter suffered a minor injury  

By VANESSA SERNA FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

Neighborhoods and schools were evacuated or ordered to shelter in place after an 'uncontrolled fire' erupted at a chemical plant on Georgia's coast.

Multiple explosions at the Symrise chemical plant in Brunswick on Monday morning led to officials ordering neighborhoods and schools within a mile of the plant to evacuate and those within three miles to shelter in place.

Symrise's describes its company as 'creating inspiring fragrance, flavor, natural nutrition, and cosmetic ingredient solutions.' The chemical that ignited the fire was hydrogen peroxide pinene, according to WTOC. 

'Code Red has been engaged,' Glynn County Sheriff's Office said. 'More potential evacuations are being coordinated. There is a multi-agency detail on the scene with more en route.'

Emergency responders safely evacuated a small handful of employees working when the fire broke out at about 4am at the plant, Georgia, said fire Captain Eric Prosswimmer 

The fire sent a large plume of thick smoke into the air from the plant, located about 70 miles south of Savannah. 

Neighborhoods one mile away had been ordered to evacuate, including Sanctuary Cove, Satilla Shores, Hickory Bluff, and Royal Oaks. 

Roughly 100 households had been told to evacuate, according to Wayne Neal, chairman of Glynn County's elected Board of Commissioners.

An uncontrolled fire broke out at the Symrise chemical plant in Brunswick on Monday morning and multiple explosions have been reported

An uncontrolled fire broke out at the Symrise chemical plant in Brunswick on Monday morning and multiple explosions have been reported

Neighborhoods one mile away has been ordered to evacuate, including Sanctuary Cove, Satilla Shores, Hickory Bluff and Royal Oaks

Neighborhoods one mile away has been ordered to evacuate, including Sanctuary Cove, Satilla Shores, Hickory Bluff and Royal Oaks

All employees were evacuated from the power plant without injuries - but one firefighter suffered a minor injury

All employees were evacuated from the power plant without injuries - but one firefighter suffered a minor injury

The neighborhoods surrounding the chemical plant have been ordered to evacuate

The neighborhoods surrounding the chemical plant have been ordered to evacuate 

In a statement, the company said the fire occurred during normal business hours. 

'The fire occurred during the regular production hours for the manufacture of fragrance ingredients,' Symrise told Fox News. 'Currently, Symrise has no reason to believe that the fire will cause additional health hazards to the local community.'

Officials later said they located where the chemical leak occurred and have isolated it to prevent more explosions from occurring. 

The heat from the fire resulted in three more metal tanks with chemicals to explode. 

Officials said they were more concerned about hazards emitted through smoke drifting into surrounding areas. 

Capt. Eric Prosswimmer, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Public Information Officer, said the chemical that ignited the fire was hydrogen peroxide pinene

Capt. Eric Prosswimmer, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Public Information Officer, said the chemical that ignited the fire was hydrogen peroxide pinene

Firefighters had to halt the use of 1.3 million gallons of water due to lack of supply, according to WTOC. Officials said the fire will burn itself out.

'We're going to take a very calculated, slow steps at this and make sure no one's in jeopardy,' Prosswimmer said. 'Right now we're staged way far back from it and some of it's just being allowed to burn.'

Residents in about 100 homes have been evacuated, and fire officials from Florida are also at the scene. 

The company has more than 34,000 products they contribute to including, pet nutrition, probiotics, fine fragrances, food, and oral care. 

Georgia

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