A Rockdale County environmental official suddenly collapsed and died following his public testimony regarding the toxic chemical plume from the BioLab facility in Conyers.
Kenny Johnson, the Rockdale County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor, spoke during a meeting at the Coverdell Legislative Office Building.
He later collapsed near the state Capitol.
Johnson, 62, was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away.
Georgia environmental official collapses and dies near state capitol after testifying about toxic BioLab fire https://t.co/GRUHMxYSOT pic.twitter.com/2BPVuwj3mD
— New York Post (@nypost) October 9, 2024
11 Alive reports:
According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, Johnson died at Grady Memorial Hospital. The ME said that due to the circumstances of the incident, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has agreed to accept the case.
A cause of death is still pending, as an autopsy needs to be completed.
ADVERTISEMENTAccording to his LinkedIn, Johnson has been the Georgia State Representative of Rockdale Soil and Water Conservation—District Supervisor since January 2019. It also mentioned that he graduated from Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Applied Science, Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians.
JUST IN – Georgia environmental official Johnson reportedly collapses and dies after giving testimony about toxic BioLab fire pic.twitter.com/47tX9RLZlN
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 9, 2024
“Kenny Johnson, a Georgia environmental official, tragically collapsed and died shortly after testifying about the BioLab chemical fire near Atlanta. The 62-year-old had just addressed a public meeting on the toxic blaze, which spread dangerous chlorine gas and forced 17,000 people to evacuate. Moments before collapsing, Johnson, an outspoken advocate for environmental safety, had complained of shortness of breath,” Shadow of Ezra wrote.
“He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. Now, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into his sudden death. Johnson had been actively pushing for BioLab’s closure, warning of its environmental dangers. He died shortly after speaking at this meeting,” the post added.
WATCH:
Kenny Johnson, a Georgia environmental official, tragically collapsed and died shortly after testifying about the BioLab chemical fire near Atlanta.
The 62-year-old had just addressed a public meeting on the toxic blaze, which spread dangerous chlorine gas and forced 17,000… pic.twitter.com/pjlKg9dMLl
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) October 9, 2024
From the New York Post:
State Rep. Viola Davis, a nurse by profession, administered CPR while waiting for EMS to arrive.
“Kenny dedicated years as the Soil and Water Conservation District representative and as an environmental justice advocate,” Davis said. “His unwavering commitment to environmental justice and his testimony on the effects of the Biolab chemical fire on the community remain etched in our memories.”
Johnson was one of a growing number of local Georgia officials and lawmakers calling for BioLab to shut its doors after the fire forced 17,000 to evacuate the area and around 90,000 more to shelter in place as the toxic plume spread.
ADVERTISEMENT“I knew that this was going to happen,” Johnson told reporters Monday. “We have an environmental disaster.”
The blaze erupted on Sept. 29 — just days after Hurricane Helene decimated the community — when a malfunctioning fire sprinkler head sprayed water on volatile chemicals, sparking a chain reaction that ended in a sky-high eruption of multicolored toxic smoke visible from 30 miles away, officials said.
The chlorine gas wrought havoc in the area throughout the week as crews battled the fire, forcing thousands to hide in their homes or leave the area completely.
As of Wednesday, those within two miles of BioLab were still under shelter-in-place orders from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. based on air monitoring data, according to the company and local officials.
“Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency lifts shelter in place except for the two-mile radius around Biolab. This recommendation is based on data over the last five consecutive days. Readings have not indicated exceedances of chemicals in the air that would require sheltering in place for areas outside of the two-mile radius. This two-mile radius includes a half-mile buffer zone,” Rockdale County stated in a press release Monday.
“Rockdale County residents and businesses within a 2-mile radius of Biolab should continue to shelter in place from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am until further notice. This recommendation reduces the number of those affected by the shelter-in-place and alleviates the associated obstacles. Air monitoring will continue across the county, including areas around schools, nursing homes, and other sensitive areas. General monitoring will continue throughout the county,” it added.
Watch full meeting below:
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