A fire at a Georgia chemical plant apparently caused by a sprinkler head malfunction Sunday morning is forcing evacuations and road closures in the area, according to Rockdale County officials.

A fire at a chemical plant east of Atlanta is forcing evacuations in the area, according to local officials. A fire on the roof of a BioLab facility in Conyers, Georgia was reignited when water from a malfunctioning sprinkler head "came in contact with a water reactive chemical and produced a plume," county officials explained on their website.

Some residents east of Atlanta were evacuated while others were told to shelter in place Sunday to avoid contaminants from a chemical plant fire that sent dark, billowing gray smok

A sprinkler malfunction combined with a “water-reactive chemical” in the plant set off the plume, prompting evacuations for large parts of Conyers, Ga., officials said.

Some residents of Conyers, Georgia were forced to evacuate their homes on Sunday as officials scrambled to control a fire that reignited at a nearby chemical plant.

A fire broke out at a chemical plant just east of Atlanta Sunday, prompting officials to ask residents in the area to evacuate. At around 5 a.m., a sprinkler head malfunctioned at the BioLab plant in Conyers, "causing a mixture with a water reactive chemical," according to Rockdale County Fire Chief Marian McDaniel.

Georgia officials are evacuating residents after a fire at a chemical plant started spreading toxic smoke on Sunday. (Credit: Ian Stinson via Storyful)

Officials were asking people to avoid the area and evacuate or stay inside to avoid any exposure to chemicals.